These are the vehicles that will not be able to enter central Madrid

On 8 October, the law restricting traffic for certain vehicles to reduce pollution came into force. Today we will explain which vehicles are affected and cannot drive in this iconic area of Madrid.

Since 8 October, the anti-pollution plan for the central Madrid area has been in force. There will be constant restrictions depending on the levels of harmful gases in the air, so drivers should stay alert to warnings.

One of the main novelties of this plan is that it will also include motorcycles, many of which, incidentally, pollute as much as or more than cars. Whether vehicles can circulate will no longer depend on license plates, but on the DGT environmental labels.

There are several scenarios depending on the level of alert or warning that may be triggered in the city:

Scenario 1

Regarding speed restrictions, there is a limit of more than 70 km/h on the central Alameda. Driving without labels will also be prohibited, of course.

Scenario 2

Only ZERO-emission and ECO vehicles will be able to park in the SER zone. If vehicles do not have the relevant labels, they will not be allowed to drive on the M-30 or the central Alameda.

Scenario 3

Under the protocol we have just seen, traffic on the M-30 was limited by 50% depending on whether license plates were even or odd. This will be replaced by the labelling system.

From now on, vehicles without the DGT environmental badge will be prohibited from driving, including motorcycles. The good news is that this will reduce total traffic in the city by 17.7% and a 21% reduction in polluting emissions.

Scenario 4

The restriction will extend to vehicles with B labels. Vehicles with B labels, i.e. petrol cars and light vans registered from January 200 onwards and diesel ones from January 2006, will not be allowed to drive inside the M-30. This will help traffic in this area but will increase congestion in the inner parts of the city.

Scenario 5

Madrid has never reached this level of alert. If it did occur, vehicles without a label as well as those with B or C labels (petrol cars and light vans registered from January 2006 and diesel from 2014) would not be able to drive on the entire M-30. This measure would save 64% of harmful emissions.

It will not be the same for everyone

It is important to note that these measures will not affect everyone equally. Vehicles used to transport people with reduced mobility or essential services such as firefighters, civil protection or security forces are exempt.

Likewise, other vehicles such as bicycles, mopeds, and public services such as street cleaning, etc., need not worry about this.

Commercial vehicles for urban goods distribution and tow trucks for car towing, workshop or roadside assistance are among the exceptions. Also those transporting detainees, funeral vehicles or armoured vehicles. As until now, residents may park in the SER spaces of their neighbourhood, and so may those authorised as commercial and industrial. Taxis and rental cars are the last ones allowed to circulate.

As we can see, many of these measures are controversial and perhaps exaggerated, and their usefulness will be proven once they are applied.