Speed limits reduced in Normandy due to air pollution spike

Road speed limits have been temporarily lowered in parts of Normandy due to high pollution levels. 

The maximum speed on several roads in the Seine-Maritime department has been reduced by 20 km/h – provided the maximum speed remains above 70 km/h – until at least Tuesday (January 14)

evening.

Other temporary restrictions have been put in place in the department, including a total ban on burning green waste (déchets verts) – some exemptions were previously in place which allowed

this to be burned.

There are also warnings over air quality levels in the Eure and Calvados departments but speed limit reductions have not been implemented. 

Warnings are currently set to end tonight but may continue if conditions do not improve.

It comes after data gathered by ATMO Normandie (air quality observer in the region) found an increase of the PM10 pollutants in the air (often found in dust and smoke).

The increase in these pollutants was caused in part by weather conditions – high pressure (but light) winds mixed with low temperatures caused the pollutants to rest in the air instead of

being swept away.

Air quality levels over the weekend deteriorated, leading to Le Havre being judged as having ‘very poor air quality’ on Monday (January 13) and Tuesday. This was the case with Rouen too on

Tuesday.

Elsewhere, much of the Seine-Maritime has ‘poor’ air quality levels today. You can see the air quality levels on a commune by commune basis in the region on the ATMO Normandie website. 

The Eure and Calvados department have both issued recommendations for people in the area to minimise the risk from the pollution, which you can find here (Eure) and here (Calvados).

Taking the shortest route when outside to minimise the time spent in the polluting air

Immediately seeking advice from a health professional if having cardiac or breathing issues

Avoiding the use biomass-burning appliances/equipment such as open fireplaces unless necessary

Avoiding the use of non-electric cleaning objects such as lawnmowers and hedge trimmers, or solvents (varnish; paint, white spirit etc).

These warnings are particularly aimed at people vulnerable to high pollution (elderly people, pregnant women, those who are immunocompromised or have cardiovascular or respiratory issues). 

In the Seine-Maritime, several temporary restrictions are in place alongside the lowered speed limits for fishing vessels, industrial companies, and farmers. The full list of restrictions

can be found here.

Air quality in Rouen (Seine-Maritime) was judged of sufficiently good quality last year to avoid stricter restrictions on vehicles within the city’s low-emissions zone (zone à faible

émission, ZFE). 

It means that – for now – the previous restrictions remain in place, with vehicles of a Crit’Air level 4 and 5 banned, but those below unaffected.