- Title: Paris driving restrictions extended as city faces worst air pollution in a decade
- Date: 8th December 2016
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (DECEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EIFFEL TOWER SEEN IN THE SMOG AIR VENTS AND STREET WITH TRAFFIC SMOG OVER PARIS TRAFFIC AND METRO TRAFFIC IN PARIS STREET POLICE VAN USED TO CHECK CAR POLLUTION LEVELS POLICE TALKING TO DRIVER POLICE LOOKING AT TRAFFIC POLICE STOPPING CAR DRIVER IN CAR POLICE LOOKING AT PAPERS CAR WITH ODD NUMBER PLATE POLICE STOPPING CAR POLICE WALKING BEHIND CAR CAR EXHAUST/CAR DRIVING OFF VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC IN STREET PEOPLE IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN WHO DID NOT WANT TO DISCLOSE THEIR NAME SAYING: "I try not to be in the street and to walk too much, I usually walk a lot but I've decided to turn to public transport such as the bus." (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN, ANNE-LAURE POULET, SAYING: "I have never been too affected by the pollution until now. When others felt it, I didn't, but for the past few days I have had an unusual dry cough which I can't explain, a scratchy throat, so..." CAR EXHAUST (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARISIAN, LOUIS TROMELIN, SAYING: "I don't know if it is unique to Parisians or it's all the French but people are a bit selfish. They like to take their own car when the trend would be take small buses, as you would in other European capitals." METRO ENTRANCE WOMAN ON PLATFORM / METRO ARRIVING METRO ENTERING STATION METRO DOORS CLOSING
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 13:55
- Keywords: pollution France Paris climate air quality
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA0015C0X6PZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Paris' famous Eiffel Tower was shrouded in a grayish haze on Thursday (December 8) as the French capital faced its worst air pollution in a decade.
The city's authorities have imposed licence-plate based driving restrictions which they announced would be extended until at least Friday, the first time such a ban has been imposed for consecutive days.
Paris banned cars from circulation based on whether their licence plates ended with odd or even numbers, and several police checks were set up across the capital to stop and fine drivers with banned numbers.
On top of spot measures, the city of Paris intends to step up its fight against chronic pollution by gradually banning the oldest and most polluting vehicles from the city center.
Tiny pollution particles produced by vehicle engines and industry are known to worsen heart disease and raise the risk of stroke, but a recent U.S. study suggests they might also be planting the seeds for cardiovascular disease early on.
French authorities have given tips on how to minimise exposure to pollution such as limiting physical exercise and to avoid going outside at the start or the end of the day for the elderly and the younger populations.
"I try not to be in the street and to walk too much, I usually walk a lot but I've decided to turn to public transport such as the bus," one pedestrian, who declined to give their name, said in Paris.
"I have never been too affected by the pollution until now. When others felt it, I didn't, but for the past few days I have had an unusual dry cough which I can't explain, a scratchy throat, so…," Parisian Anne-Laure Poulet said.
Passer-by Louis Tromelin said drivers should decide to change their ways to get around the capital.
"I don't know if it is unique to Parisians or it's all the French but people are a bit selfish. They like to take their own car when the trend would be take small buses, as you would in other European capitals," he said.
Paris city made all public transport, residential parking and the Velib' bicycle and Autolib' electric car schemes free in order to entice car users to use other transport modes. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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