The Clean Transport region in Warsaw will be launched on 1 July 2024. The decision on this substance was taken by the City Council, which voted on the resolution on 7 December 2023. However, contrary to erstwhile announcements, the region area will be somewhat smaller than originally planned.
The Warsaw City Council session on December 7, 2023 was full of tensions and stormy discussions. The main subject of the gathering was the creation of a clean transport region in the capital. The discussion lasted for hours before the resolution was yet voted on. Finally, the resolution received adequate support: 37 councillors voted in favour of its adoption, 16 were against and 2 abstained. This support was adequate for the resolution to enter into force.
This decision is crucial for the future of the environment in the city and will affect traffic organisation and air quality. Despite any changes in the area of clean transport, the introduction of this solution is an crucial step towards improving the quality of life of residents and protecting the environment.
SCT in Warsaw. Map and 2 amendments
Clean Transport Zone in Warsaw will be launched on 1 July 2024 – this information is already confirmed. However, as far as its area is concerned, there has been a regulation compared to the erstwhile proposal of the city authorities. Now it will cover only those streets that are contractually considered downtown.
In the erstwhile proposal, the SCT was to cover the area including besides Żoliborz, Prague North, almost all of Volunteer, almost all of Prague South, most of Mokotov and about half of Wola. However, it has been decided to limit the area that will be subject to restrictions related to clean transport zone, focusing mainly on downtown area. This decision can affect the local community and traffic, focusing on circumstantial areas in the city and their impact on air quality and the environment.
The last amendment to the resolution afraid the benefit for seniors. Persons who scope a maximum of 80 years of age this year and acquisition the vehicle during the same period will be entitled to enter the centre of Warsaw without any restrictions on Clean Transport Zone (SCT). However, it is simply a condition that they are both drivers or passengers in this vehicle. This will release them from the SCT rules in Warsaw.
It is worth noting that the SCT will be launched in Warsaw on 1 July 2024, but initially it will only apply to visitors. The residents of the area covered by the region will be restricted only from 1 January 2028. For them, a transitional period of almost 4 years is foreseen. It is an crucial time for residents to adapt to fresh regulations on vehicle traffic and the environment in the capital.
What are the rules for entering SCT in Warsaw?
Starting on 1 July 2024, Warsaw's downtown area will be inaccessible for vehicles with diesel engine older than 18 years in accordance with Euro 4, and for vehicles with petrol engine older than 27 years old, gathering Euro 2. This is only the first phase of the introduction of the Clean Transport region (SCT). In the following stages:
As of 2026, the ban will include diesel cars older than 16 years in accordance with Euro 5, and petrol engine vehicles older than 25 years with Euro 3.
As of 2028, the ban will apply to vehicles with a diesel engine older than 13 years, complying with the Euro 6 standard, and vehicles with a petrol engine older than 22 years in accordance with the Euro 4 standard.
Subsequently, as of 2030, the entry into force ban will include vehicles with a diesel engine older than 11 years in accordance with Euro 6dt, and vehicles with a petrol engine older than 20 years with a Euro 5 standard.
Finally, as of 2032, the restrictions will include vehicles with a diesel engine older than 11 years, complying with the Euro 6d standard, and vehicles with a petrol engine older than 17 years in accordance with the Euro 6 standard.
These gradual stages of restrictions introduced in the SCT aim to gradually reduce the impact of older, more polluting vehicles on the environment in Warsaw. These regulations are a commitment to advance greener transport options, but at the same time require drivers to adapt to the fresh age and kind of engines in their vehicles.
Exceptions in the clean transport zone
I have already mentioned the first exception that includes people aged 80 and older. However, this privilege does not work without reservation... Further exceptions concern:
- Vehicles considered historical or historic. In their case there is no transitional period. Vehicles with yellow plates can freely enter the clean transport region in Warsaw.
- Vehicles belonging to public or public services. This applies not only to police vehicles, fire brigades or ambulances, but besides to cars utilized by CBA, SOP or military units.
- Vehicles that appear in Warsaw in exceptional situations, for example due to a visit to a infirmary or to a doctor. There is simply a four-day window of anticipation per year for specified cases.
These exceptions form an crucial part of the clean transport region regulation. They supply flexibility in certain situations, allowing more freedom of movement for vehicles of a peculiar nature or in emergency situations. However, detailed guidelines and definitions of these situations may be crucial to the precise enforcement of these exceptions and the prevention of possible abuses.
Mandate for entry into the clean transport zone
As of 1 July 2024, drivers arriving in the capital must follow strict rules regarding the clean transport zone. Failure to comply with these guidelines results in the imposition of a mandate in accordance with Article 96c of the Code of Offence Act. This article states that a individual who violates the ban on entry into a clean transport region is subject to a monetary penalty, which may amount to up to PLN 500. The mandate may be imposed from PLN 20 to a maximum of PLN 500.
The monitoring of compliance with these rules will be carried out by the City Guard, which will usage green stickers on vehicle windows, or by means of monitoring and systems reading vehicle registration plates. On the another hand, the question which of these methods will be preferred in the capital seems to be not yet regulated.
The clarification of these provisions may be crucial for effective enforcement of restrictions in the clean transport region and for ensuring their effectiveness. In addition, clear guidance is needed on how penalties will be enforced to avoid ambiguity or randomness in the control process.
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Clean transport region from 1 July 2024. Old cars won't go into town.:
