Traffic rules in Milan
October 1, 2022 marked the introduction of new driving bans inside Area B and Area C (congestion charges) in Milan. 13% of vehicles are concerned. The rules to know to avoid fines.
Much of the city of Milan became a limited traffic area on October 1, 2022. Under the application of new environmental rules, the most polluting vehicles and those more than 12 meters long transporting goods, now have the prohibition of access and circular in Area B. Nearly 50,000 vehicles (motorcycles, vans and cars) are concerned, 13% of the total means of transport which enter the restricted traffic zone daily (ztl ) .
Zone B of Milan: traffic restrictions in “the largest Ztl in Europe”
Area B stands out from the congestion charge of Area C. It is a limited traffic area considered the largest in Europe, as it jointly covers the entire territory of Milan, by prohibiting access to the most polluting diesel vehicles.
Area B Operation
The Area B restricted traffic zone is active Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., but not on weekends.
Area B is delimited by 186 entrance doors, the positioning of which can be consulted online, on the website of the Municipality of Milan. The installed surveillance cameras activate the license plates of incoming vehicles, but in addition to transit, dynamic traffic is also prohibited. This means that a vehicle entering before 7:30 a.m. will not be able to move within the zone during the day, except after 7:30 p.m.
Two categories of vehicles are concerned: passenger vehicles (Euro 2 petrol, Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel), the most polluting transport of goods and buses.
Punishments
The system provides for the payment of a fine for polluting vehicles entering Zone B, ranging from 163 to 658 euros. Repeat offenders who, within two years, commit the same offense more than once, are subject to a driving license suspension of 15 to 30 days maximum.
Derogations and tolerance threshold for circular in Milan
The decision to establish Area B and the restrictive rules on the way down, have generated lively controversy from Milanese and those who have to go to Milan every day to work. Also, the municipality has set up the MoVe-In device, a kind of black box to be installed on its vehicle, to check the number of kilometers traveled in Area B.
Indeed, tolerance thresholds are provided, but vary according to the drivers. Residents of Milan can count 50 free entries into Area B until September 2023. Euro 5 category diesel cars have a total of 2,000 kilometers available per year, compared to 1,800 kilometers for Euro 4 category diesel cars in available until September 2024.
For the second year (from 2023), free admissions will be reduced by two for Milan residents who will therefore have 25 admissions to the city. Non-residents, on the other hand, have five free entries tolerated, but only on condition of registering beforehand.
To benefit from prevention, it is not compulsory to submit a request, but it is still advisable for all motorists to register on the dedicated portal in order to have the number of accesses under control.
Area C (urban toll) in Milan: who can drive (stop hybrid cars)
Area C is the zone delimiting the historic center of Milan with access restrictions for certain types of vehicles that coincide with the Limited Traffic Zone (Ztl). The entrance gates are monitored by 43 surveillance cameras. Area C has been in effect since early 2012, but since October 1, some vehicles can no longer access the historic center (Euro 2 Gasoline cars and Diesel cars, even 0.1, 2 and 3). It should also be noted that hybrid cars generate Co2 emissions of more than 100 g/km and are no longer exempt from entry tickets. Like the others, these vehicles will therefore have to pay the 5 euro ticket to access Zone C (to be purchased in tobacconists, ATM points of sale, newsagents, etc.).
As a reminder, Area C is active Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Traffic is therefore free on weekends.