Pollution in Geneva: reduced traffic and activated stick

The decision fell this Tuesday at the end of the day: the Department of Territory (DT) announced the activation of differentiated traffic in the central perimeter of the Canton of Geneva, for the first time in an integral manner since entry into force of the Stick’Air device, In January 2020. An unprecedented measure in Switzerland.

After several days of intense sunshine, Ozone concentrations in the air has exceeded the regulatory thresholds, in particular on the Meyrin measurement station. The alert level is 2 out of 3.

Macarons 4 & 5 traffic prohibitions

From Wednesday, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., only vehicles with a Stick’Air 0, 1, 2 or 3 macaroon, will be able to circulate in the area concerned, which covers almost the entire city of Geneva as well as a part of Carouge, Colagny, Lancy and Vernier.

The most polluting vehicles, classified in category 4 and 5 cannot enter the perimeter. According to data dating from 2020, 11% of the park entered this category at the time. A proportion that has logically had to drop in recent years.

On the other hand, and this may potentially concern many drivers, cars and motorcycles without a macaroon are also prohibited from perimeter. Panels installed at the start of the main road axes indicate the categories authorized to circulate.

The equivalent French Crit’Air French thumbnails are accepted. The macaroon, sold for 5 francs, classifies vehicles in six categories according to their engine and their Euro standard, at least polluting (green) to the most polluting (gray). The offenders are exposed to a fine of up to 500 francs.

Other effects of this decision: public transport will be free throughout the canton (zone 10 of the uniteo) and the speed on the bypass highway will be limited to 80 km/h.

The duration of the system will depend on the evolution of air quality in the coming days. However, weather forecasts indicate conditions that are still favorable to the accumulation of ozone.

Since its creation, Stick’Air had not been activated that two dayson January 20 and 27, 2020, and without sanctions because the macaroon had just been introduced. A court decision, seized by the Swiss Touring Club (TCS), then noted the activation thresholds for fine particles in order to align them with those of the Confederation, drastically reducing the trigger possibilities.

Sun reaction

A peak of ozone pollution occurs when so -called “precursors” pollutants, in particular nitrogen oxides (NOX) issued by vehicles and certain industries, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOC) – react to each other under the effect of solar radiation.

This phenomenon is amplified by warm, sunny and not very windy weather, which prevents the dispersion of pollutants. The ozone thus formed is not issued directly, but accumulates in the air.

It can cause ocular and respiratory irritation, coughing, shortness of breath, aggravation of asthma and temporary decrease in pulmonary capacity. Vulnerable people – children, elderly, asthmatic – are particularly exposed

Irony of the calendar, last June, the authorities welcomed “historically good” air quality in 2024with annual concentrations of fine particles and nitrogen dioxide at the lowest since the start of the measurements. Only ozone, today at the source of restrictions, remained problematic, despite a number of overruns lower than previous years thanks to a spring and an inexolement summer.

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