With the expansion of London’s Ulez scheme and the introduction of 20mph speed limits across Wales, British motorists could be forgiven for feeling discriminated against. But the war on drivers is not limited to Britain’s roads. From Spain to Switzerland, new anti-car measures are also being adopted by European governments, limiting the freedom of motorists, including holidaymakers, to explore the continent.
Bologna in northern Italy is also one of the destinations that puts pressure on drivers. Earlier this month, a default citywide speed limit of 30 km/h (19 mph) was introduced (a reduction of 20 km/h), much to the chagrin of residents. There was such an outcry that Italy’s deputy prime minister said he was “working on guidelines” to reverse the restrictions within a week and “find a reasonable balance” for drivers in other cities.
Bologna’s much-discussed Città 30 concept is designed to reduce accidents and air pollution. italian newspaper Republic It reports that there were 737 deaths due to road traffic accidents in the Bologna metropolitan area between 2010 and 2019.
But for most people, dramatically reducing speed is a compromise too far. Motorists in Bologna stopped traffic to protest the regulations, taxi drivers threatened to increase their fares and bus drivers warned of disruption to fares. But supporters of the law argue that the restrictions will actually improve traffic flow and travel times.
The situation in Bologna is reminiscent of the recent debate in Wales over the new default 20mph speed limit for built-up and residential areas, which was introduced last year due to road safety and environmental concerns.
These measures appeared to be very unpopular; Residents complained that the border made travel difficult and created problems climbing steep hills. It was reported that a village was cut off from the bus route due to the change.
Tourists planning to take their cars to Europe or rent a car for a while should be aware of similar decisions popping up across the continent.
In Zurich, for example, more than half of the city’s roads now have a 30 km/h limit, and Switzerland is considering expanding this plan across the country.
The development of the port in Bilbao in northern Spain, a creative hub now home to the Guggenheim museum, has led to a marked increase in the number of cars on the roads. In contrast, there is now a 30 km/h speed limit throughout the city.
Reduced speed limits have also been announced recently in Belgium, Denmark and Sweden.
Environmental schemes similar to Ulez are also becoming more common across the Channel.
Visitors to French cities including Bordeaux, Lyon, Paris, Marseille and Montpellier are now being warned that they must have CRITAir – “clean air” – stickers on their windscreens or face a €135 (£115) fine. Paris in particular is now subject to much lower speed limits and “limited traffic zones” or LTZs have been designated in the city centre.
By the end of this year, the LTZ will cover zone one and parts of zones five, six and seven. From 2026, all areas will be LTZ, meaning only the lowest-emission vehicles can pass through the city (with some exceptions for residents and emergency vehicles).
Meanwhile, the “Sustainable Mobility Plan” in Madrid aims to reduce air pollution by 65 percent and traffic volume by a quarter. Visitors to Spain’s capital will notice the expanded Metro route and increased pedestrianization; In the city center cars are subject to low emissions zones similar to those in London. Drivers arriving from abroad in cars that do not meet the requirements could face fines of between €200 (£170) and €1,800 (£1,540).
London’s Ulez plan, introduced by Sadiq Khan in 2019 and expanded last year, has served as a blueprint for many European capitals. The scheme currently covers most of Greater London from Havering to Heathrow, with a daily fee of £12.50 imposed on non-compliant vehicles. Opposition to Ulez has seen cameras hacked and detonated with improvised explosive devices by vigilante groups.
Beyond Europe, cities like Toronto are following London’s example as it tries to get its massive traffic problem under control. Last year the Canadian city was ranked the third worst city in the world for traffic congestion, after the UK capital and Dublin. The city plans to reduce speed limits from 50 and 40 km/h to 30 km/h by 2025.
Drivers across the continent have long been aware of the need for items such as reflective jackets, warning triangles and snow chains. There will now be concerns about how long it will take to get around and the potential for accidentally entering a restricted area. On the other hand, improvements in public transport are also beneficial for non-driving visitors, and cleaner air would certainly make for a more enjoyable journey, if such plans actually deliver.
But if barrier-free driving is a priority, few car-friendly countries remain. Although a top speed of 130 km/h (81mph) is recommended and the country’s built-up areas are largely limited to 50km/h (31mph), Germany’s Autobahnen remains refreshingly unrestricted.
Greece is similarly laissez-faire, according to destination expert Heidi Fuller-Love. “Speed-limiting laws are rarely respected or enforced—even in major cities,” she says. For holidaymakers who prefer their travels quickly and quickly, these may be destinations to consider.