ZFE in Toulouse: Nathalie, nurse anesthetist at Samu, can no longer come to work with her 2002 Golf
Since the entry into force of the Low Emission Zone (ZFE) in Toulouse on January 1, 2023, discontent has been rising among motorists with cars that are too old. Testimony.
The Low Emission Zone (ZFE) does not pass. Since January 1, 2023, private vehicles (cars and motorcycles) with Crit’Air stickers 4 and 5 are prohibited within the perimeter of the Toulouse Métropole ZFE. And motorists are alarmed.
Nathalie lives in the Gers, and risks a fine of €68 each time she comes to work at the Purpan hospital
Nathalie is a nurse anesthetist at the Samu de Haute-Garonne. She lives in the Gers, and drives a 2002 diesel car, prohibited from entering the Low Emission Zone (ZFE) of Toulouse Métropole. Her car has a Crit’Air 4 sticker, and if it is checked in the ZFE, Nathalie risks a fine of €68.
“My 2002 Golf is well maintained, it passes technical inspections without any problem, and consumes 4.5 liters per 100 km…”
“The reason for my anger is that my car is well maintained, it passes technical inspections without any problem. It is a Golf IV which certainly has 270,000 km on the clock, but it only consumes 4.5 liters per 100 km. How am I going to pollute Toulouse by simply coming to Purpan and returning home? And I can’t afford to replace her. I am against the archi-consumption linked to the purchase of all these new cars. And where do the cars go that we can no longer use? In neighboring countries, who don’t care about us. They certainly pollute less elsewhere…”
“I can’t carpool with a colleague, sometimes I finish a helicopter rescue at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m….”
Nathalie does most of her call duty at night. She arrives at the Purpan hospital at 7 p.m., to take over from her colleagues at 8 p.m. And if she “officially” ends her hours on call at 8 in the morning, it often happens that her schedules “overflow”, in the event of a call to the operating room. “Sometimes I finish a helicopter rescue at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. This is why it is impossible for me to carpool with another colleague, my schedules do not stick with others. »
For this worker on the “front line” for the health of others, this ban which she describes as “arbitrary and unfair” does not pass.
“I have never questioned my vocation to take care of others, but I am ready to do something else if I can no longer go to my workplace with my car…”
“We are paying more and more for everything, inflation is strangling us, and now we have to change cars to go to work. I have been working since 1989, I have been a nurse anesthetist since 1991, in the hospital for more than 30 years, without sick leave. I have never questioned this “vocation” that I have to take care of people, but I am ready to do something else if I can no longer go to my workplace with my car”.
A “ZFE Pass” for small riders, but limited to 52 days per year
To “cushion” the effects of the ZFE, Toulouse Métropole has set up derogations, and in particular the “ZFE Pass”. It will allow, from the end of January 2023, to benefit from a maximum of 52 days of authorization each year for prohibited vehicles, for a maximum of 3 years. Workers like Nathalie, who have chosen to live in the countryside and work in Toulouse year-round, are not affected.
In the meantime, Nathalie has written to the president of the Métropole and mayor of Toulouse. She asks for a derogation to be able to go to work in the ZFE, and regresses to return home.
“Granting too many permits would empty the ZFE of its objective, which is to fight against pollution”, replies Toulouse Métropole
For Nathalie as for other motorists in Crit’Air 4 or 5 cars, who come every day to work within the perimeter of the ZFE, Toulouse Métropole has not provided for specific exemptions. “Granting exemptions to all those who come to Toulouse every day would completely empty the ZFE of its substance”, explains the Metropolis. “The purpose of the ZFE is to reduce pollution, with a public health objective”, recalls the community. Aid for the purchase of an existing cleaner vehicle, for the scrapping of an old vehicle. Otherwise, recalls the Metropolis, it is possible to access the metro park and ride located in the ZFE (Basso Cambo, Argoulets, Borderouge) to take the metro and go inside the perimeter of the ZFE.