Low emissions zones in France

[barryd]

Dementia is setting in Barry, possibly it’s all that pollution down in the Lake District

Nah, Just too much Leffe and Scotch Bill. At least I remembered I had posted something somewhere!

 

[Fisherman]

That won't go down well in France Barry.

I thought it was compulsory to smoke there.

Smoking in France is far higher than here Rob.
I am amazed when I visit France the amount of folk who smoke.
For a nation who pride themselves in how they look, how they eat, and how the live, it seems counterintuitive that they should smoke.
I am thankful I never started smoking, I am the only member of my family who did not.
My mum smoked, my dad liked cigars, and both my sisters smoke.
No doubt it will have affected my health, my mum smoked through all her pregnancies, it was normal then to do so.

 

[Robmac]

Smoking in France is far higher than here Rob.
I am amazed when I visit France the amount of folk who smoke.
For a nation who pride themselves in how they look, how they eat, and how the live, it seems counterintuitive that they should smoke.
I am thankful I never started smoking, I am the only member of my family who did not.
My mum smoked, my dad liked cigars, and both my sisters smoke.
No doubt it will have affected my health, my mum smoked through all her pregnancies, it was normal then to do so.

Mine too Bill. I am quite a heavy smoker so will have to pay the piper at some point but I've always known that.

I think smoking habits have changed a lot though, I never smoke indoors or in the car and of course we can't smoke in pubs or public buildings anymore or at work.

I do like a fag though and am rolling one up as we type. I wasn't going to but just talking about it made me want one, so it's your fault!

 

[Fisherman]

Mine too Bill. I am quite a heavy smoker so will have to pay the piper at some point but I've always known that.

I think smoking habits have changed a lot though, I never smoke indoors or in the car and of course we can't smoke in pubs or public buildings anymore or at work.

I do like a fag though and am rolling one up as we type. I wasn't going to but just talking about it made me want one, so it's your fault!

I would have thought the smoking ban in pubs would have drastically cut your smoking to almost ZILCH Rob

 

[Robmac]

I would have thought the smoking ban in pubs would have drastically cut your smoking to almost ZILCH Rob

No but it did cut it down a lot at the time though. A couple of years ago I went into a pub and at closing time the landlord locked the doors and put ashtrays out and allowed everybody to smoke. Within minutes the atmosphere was unbearable we were just not used to it anymore and nobody could stand it for long.

The smoking ban did do me a huge favour though, I had just started up a garden furniture business (pub outdoor benches) and business went through the roof.

 

[Harrytherid]

I quit the fags 24 yrs ago and what a job it was to do so but I dont now have a fear of flying (not being allowed to smoke for all that time terrified me) but it is so nice not to have to worry about it though every so often I get a sudden urge for a fag (cant say that in America) A couple of years ago I went right through the london LEZ, for old times sake (used to live in Greenwich) could have gone rolund ,M25 the but I wanted to see some of the old places so took the risk and they were kind enough to just send me a don't do it again warning, love them dearly!

 

[barryd]

Its been a few years since we went across to mainland Europe but last time we were there I was surprised vaping had not caught on. Especially Germany. I wonder if its changed. Im sure it accounts for why the UK has a lot less smokers now than some other countries.

 

[guerdeval]

I'm sure I replied to this thread late last night drunk but either I didn't press "reply" or it got deleted. Can anyone remember what I said?

It was along the lines of the French smoke too much anyway and deserve to choke to death, that was the lighthearted part, the rest I couldn’t repeat otherwise we’d both be in for a ban.

 

[guerdeval]

I only smoked for a few years in my teens and early twenties, I stopped almost overnight when I took my daughter for her first swim and realised I hadn’t enough breath for one width of the pool.

 

[TJBi]

It's the system of hitting the people who HAVE to go there and can't afford it that riles me Bill, seems to me that it's a sort of 'it's ok to pollute as long as you pay' thing rather than any genuine concern.

That's not the way that it works in France (or in Scotland). There is no option to pay a fee to have the right to enter a LEZ; you are fined if you enter with a non-compliant vehicle.

<snip>

French measures are far less restrictive than ours, only cars registered before 1997 being completely banned. <snip>

I assume that by "ours", you mean Scotland's. The restrictions in France vary from place to place, with some vehicles registered considerably more recently than 1997 being subject to quite tight restrictions, such as only being able to enter the ZFE between 2000 and 0800 or all day at weekends and on public holidays; not much use for those having to travel to work, appointments or for any other purpose during a normal weekday.

 

[Robmac]

That's not the way that it works in France (or in Scotland). There is no option to pay a fee to have the right to enter a LEZ; you are fined if you enter with a non-compliant vehicle.

I wasn't aware of that. I have no idea how much a fine would be for this - in Scotland or France but if it is similar to what they charge here to enter the zones it would amount to the same thing. I assume there are exemptions if you live there?

 

[colinm]

Its been a few years since we went across to mainland Europe but last time we were there I was surprised vaping had not caught on. Especially Germany. I wonder if its changed. Im sure it accounts for why the UK has a lot less smokers now than some other countries.

The last time we toured Germany was about 6 years ago, there were cigarette vending machines outside shops! A totally different attitude to smoking than here.

 

[colinm]

I would have thought the smoking ban in pubs would have drastically cut your smoking to almost ZILCH Rob

When I stopped smoking, well before the smoking ban, my drinking increased. Were I would take a sip of drink, then a drag of a cigarette, it became a sip of drink, then another sip, the double whammy meant my weight ballooned, the upshot was I virtually gave up going to pubs.

 

[barryd]

I wasn't aware of that. I have no idea how much a fine would be for this - in Scotland or France but if it is similar to what they charge here to enter the zones it would amount to the same thing. I assume there are exemptions if you live there?

When I last enquired with the Crit Air people about old 1996 Hank the tank it was unclassified and they pretty much told me it was banned from France as I couldn't enter Calais with it.

 

[TJBi]

When I last enquired with the Crit Air people about old 1996 Hank the tank it was unclassified and they pretty much told me it was banned from France as I couldn't enter Calais with it.

There are other routes. But of course, not an issue for you now.

 

[TJBi]

I wasn't aware of that. I have no idea how much a fine would be for this - in Scotland or France but if it is similar to what they charge here to enter the zones it would amount to the same thing. I assume there are exemptions if you live there?

Depends very much on the individual authority; it's possible in some areas to request an exemption, but that might be for one or more years in some or just one or two days (if at all) in others.

 

[barryd]

There are other routes. But of course, not an issue for you now.

Dieppe, Cherbourg and Roscoff according to ChatGPT. I Wonder if they pull anyone at Calais. I suspect not. As you say, don't matter now. I'm a "2" which I assume is good.

• Dieppe: Currently, Dieppe does not have a low-emission zone, making it a viable entry point.
• Cherbourg: Cherbourg has not implemented a low-emission zone as of now, allowing access for unclassified vehicles.
• Roscoff: Roscoff remains outside any designated low-emission zones, providing another suitable alternative.

 

[colinm]

Dieppe, Cherbourg and Roscoff according to ChatGPT. I Wonder if they pull anyone at Calais. I suspect not. As you say, don't matter now. I'm a "2" which I assume is good.

• Dieppe: Currently, Dieppe does not have a low-emission zone, making it a viable entry point.
• Cherbourg: Cherbourg has not implemented a low-emission zone as of now, allowing access for unclassified vehicles.
• Roscoff: Roscoff remains outside any designated low-emission zones, providing another suitable alternative.

AFAIK the main route into port from A16/A26 is outside the zone.

 

[Robmac]

Depends very much on the individual authority; it's possible in some areas to request an exemption, but that might be for one or more years in some or just one or two days (if at all) in others.

So if you live there you must own a compliant car (in some areas) or not drive?

 

[barryd]

AFAIK the main route into port from A16/A26 is outside the zone.

It was the Official French Crit Air people who told me I couldnt take my old van into Calais, I did wonder though if it was rubbish