Air pollution, the town takes measures

The limits for PM10 and pollutants have been exceeded by a long way, and Varese is taking measures. At the air pollution testing centre, in Via Copelli, a mean daily concentration of 81 micrograms per cubic metre was recorded on 7 January (the limit is 50 micrograms per cubic metre; this mean daily concentration should not be exceeded more than 35 times a year), and as a result, Mayor Fontana has signed an ordinance for a ban on the most polluting vehicles, in accordance with the regional plan of measures for limiting vehicle traffic.

The ban will remain in effect from Wednesday, 9 January until it is revoked, and will run from 7.30 am to 7.30 pm, for the following vehicles not used for public services:

– Euro 0 motor vehicles that run on petrol (that do not conform to Directive 91/441/EEC, and subsequent directives);

– Euro 0, Euro 1 and Euro 2 motor vehicles that run on diesel (that conform to Directive 91/542/EEC, or 96/1/EEC, line B, or that conform to Directives 94/12/EEC – 96/69/EC, or to 98/77/EC);

– two-stroke, Euro 0 motorcycles and mopeds.

 The ban extends throughout the council territory, including provincial and state roads, excluding motorways and regional roads. A number of exceptions, considered essential, have been applied. Anyone who fails to respect the ban will be fined €163.

 The following vehicles are excluded from the ban:

 – light, electric city vehicles, hybrid and multi-mode vehicles, electric micro vehicles and ultra light electric vehicles;

– vehicles with a natural gas or LPG system, albeit not exclusive, fitted by the manufacturer, or subsequently installed;

– vehicles that run on diesel, fitted with systems that reduce particulate matter (diesel particulate filters) that can guarantee a particulate emission value equal to, or less than the limit set for Euro 3, that were either fitted by the manufacturer, or subsequently installed;

– vehicles that have particular construction characteristics, or that are used to carry out public or social services:

a) vehicles, motor vehicles and mopeds of the State Police, of the Penitentiary Police, of the Financial Police, of the Armed Forces, of the National Corps of Firemen, of the Italian Red Cross, of the Municipal and Provincial Police Corps and Services, of the Civil Defence Corps and State Forestry Corps;

b) ambulances:

c) school buses and local public transport vehicles – in accordance with Regional Decrees No. 4924, of 15/06/2007, and No. 6418, of 27/12/2007, for category M3 vehicles;

d) vehicles fitted with the badge for transporting disabled people, that are used exclusively for the transportation of these disabled people;

e) cars that carry CD and CC plates;

– vehicles that belong to public and private individuals who perform functions of public service or public utility, who can be identified either by an appropriate badge, or by a certificate from their employer, who carry out emergency maintenance services;

– vehicles of traders at weekly open markets, limited to the journey that is strictly necessary to reach the workplace from their homes, and back;

– vehicles of traders at wholesale markets (fruit and vegetable, fish, flower and meat), limited to the journey that is strictly necessary to reach their home at the end of the working day; vehicles used for the universal postal service, or that possess a ministerial permit/authorisation, in accordance with Directive 97/67/EC, as modified by Directive 2002/39/EC;

– armoured vehicles, for transporting valuables, regulated by the Ministry of Transport Decree No. 332, of 3 February 1998;

– vehicles of physicians and vets making emergency visits, fitted with the badge of their respective associations, health and welfare workers on duty, with a certificate from their employer;

– vehicles used for transporting people undergoing essential therapies that cannot be postponed, for the treatment of serious illnesses, who can provide a doctor’s certificate;

– vehicles used by employees working shifts that make it impossible to use public transport, certified by the employer;

– vehicles of priests and of religious ministers of any confession, when they are carrying out their ministries, with at least three people inside;

– vehicles of blood donors who have a certified appointment for donating blood.