Crit’Air

[delta0]

Are any of the common routes to Le Mans impacted by this yet? Very tricky to get the latest info from the various websites.

[delta0]

Thanks everyone. I had read a while back Rouen would be included and possibly Le Mans. Seems like that has not happened yet. Also Paris is going to stop everything except for 1 and EV soon so even group 2 downwards will have trouble soon.

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At the start of this month the expanded Crit’air around Rouen now impacts personal vehicles. It’s currently prohibited to drive through the area with a vehicle that is Crit’air 4 or 5. In January this changes to include Crit’air 3. Only Crit’air 2 and above will be able to pass through the Rouen area. This will impact those that drive in anything below Euro 5 emissions standard.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

https://www.green-zones.eu/en/low-emission-zones/f...

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Vette_1978 said:

I've been looking at this as my old V8 definitely won't fit into any of the Crit Air categories. But looking at this map, it appears you can go through Rouen, just not stop:
https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainme...

This might have changed so will be keeping an eye on it as our usual hotel is within the zone, which means thats a no go from now on.

Where does it say you can go through without being impacted? Everything I’ve seen says the opposite. It won’t be possible to go remotely near Rouen with a non-compliant car.

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OvalOwl said:

delta0 said:

Vette_1978 said:

I've been looking at this as my old V8 definitely won't fit into any of the Crit Air categories. But looking at this map, it appears you can go through Rouen, just not stop:
https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainme...

This might have changed so will be keeping an eye on it as our usual hotel is within the zone, which means thats a no go from now on.

Where does it say you can go through without being impacted? Everything I’ve seen says the opposite. It won’t be possible to go remotely near Rouen with a non-compliant car.

The page linked to shows a map of the old HGV exclusion zone which didn't cover the Pont Guillaume and the dual carriageways connecting to it.

This gives the up-to-date situation in French only.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

That’s a good link. Looks like it impacts the common A28 route and connecting roads that are usually used by the Calais to Le Mans drivers.

Everyone will need a Crit’Air sticker to pass through but some cars won’t be able to enter the area at all.

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OvalOwl said:

delta0 said:

OvalOwl said:

This gives the up-to-date situation in French only.

https://www.metropole-rouen-normandie.fr/zone-faib...

That’s a good link. Looks like it impacts the common A28 route and connecting roads that are usually used by the Calais to Le Mans drivers.

Everyone will need a Crit’Air sticker to pass through but some cars won’t be able to enter the area at all.

Crit 4 & 5 and not classified will be banned.

If your vehicle doesn't meet Crit 3 you will have to detour via Yvetot and miss out on the tunnel.

These are the standards from https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/

Crit 3

Euro 2, 3 petrol vehicles, Euro 3, 4 petrol HGVs
Euro 4 diesel vehicles, Euro 5 diesel HGVs
Euro 5 Biodiesel HGVs
Euro 2 2 wheels

Crit 4

Euro 3 diesel vehicles, Euro 4 diesel HGVs
Euro 4 Biodiesel HGVs
2 wheels without standard from June 2000 to June 2004

Crit 5

Euro 2 diesel vehicles, Euro 3 diesel HGVs
Euro 3 Biodiesel HGVs

By the time everyone goes next year it will be Crit’Air 2.

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Truckosaurus said:

I have a nice '2' sticker for my elderly Lexus.

In theory the sticker lasts the life of the car - ie. you don't have to re-register it if it gets sold. Although I am sure dimwit car salesmen will remove the stickers when you part-ex the car.

I've said before that they have got the numbering scheme the wrong way round as they've nowhere to go when new EURO regs come in - although probably they will go to 'Electric vehicles only' eventually.

The Rouen scheme is manual enforcement only - so in theory they could stand at the side of the road and flag down any older British cars during Le Mans week.

After the 1 it’s the green sticker for zero emission vehicles.

I suspect they use an ANPR so it’s not really the sticker that’s important, it’s the system recognising the number plate and if it is registered. Would be typically French if it was manual checks

Edited by delta0 on Tuesday 6th September 09:49

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Squibble said:

So. My partner and I have our tickets for next year, and we're planning on going down in my 1987 Ford Capri 2.8i (providing it leaves the workshop in good time and good shape). The website says it's too old, does this mean my car is prohibited from entering Rouen? We drove down using the A16/A28 in her 1.4 Civic this year and I don't recall us having to register for anything other than Paris? We didn't see any police either, just lots of those grey pilarbox speed cameras. Were we just lucky or is this a bit of a transitional situation? I'm not often out of the country so this is all a bit new to me

It wasn’t in place for private vehicles until September this year and will move to Euro 4 petrol and Euro 5 diesel in January 2023. This is going to be new for a lot of us! Having plans for an alternative route around could be wise. I’m not sure when it is being expanded to Le Mans as well but it will happen eventually everywhere in France I expect.

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Cousin Dupree said:

No vehicles except categories 1 to 4 and electric vehicles? No lorries or coaches every day 8 till 8, and no cars, bikes and vans Monday to Friday 8 till 8 except bank holidays. That can't be on the major route through the town surely?

For Rouen at the moment it is 1-3 and January that changes to 1-2. That does include the major route that we Le Mans drivers take.

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Squibble said:

I've found this, which suggests the ring road is still usable without a Critair sticker, so hopefully see will be ok still to take the A16/A28 route, just with this minor deviation.

This is the latest one and it does pick it up on google that you are traveling through a low emission zone.

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Cousin Dupree said:

I could understand that sign being on the entrance to a side street going into a residential area or similar, is that what the 'Multi communes' bit means maybe?

Communes are the regions with an area. For example this is a list of the communes of Rouen http://comersis.fr/communes.php?epci=200023414

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theaxe said:

Thanks, it wasn't super-clear. I ordered one.

I need to order one before LM next year. Let me know how long it takes to arrive.

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It’s official, taken from the Le Mans Reddit channel

LeMansReddit said:

Official Response: Crit-Air Sticker (for LM24h driving 2023)
Having had an at-length email discussion with the people who run the French Crit'Air service and researched all I can, I have the following guidance for drivers to this year's LM24h.

- ****You do need a Crit'Air registration this year if you are going to drive through Rouen**** This absolutely includes any route through, especially the "main dual carriageway" to bridge route used by most
- Foreign vehicles are not exempt. At all.
- Allegedly it would be possible for French police to note a massive number of foreign tourists to be using Rouen in cars that might not be Crit'Air registered, and potentially it would be easy to undertake a low-effort high-reward project in which these vehicles were flagged in and stopped southbound (approaching the weekend) and/or returning for 24hrs from mid afternoon Sunday if one were so inclined and make a lot of money
- Rental vehicles are not exempt. If you have to take one, the owner of the vehicle has to apply for one, and whilst you may be stopped, you can show the invoice/receipt to police
Order yours in advance. It's only about £5.

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RL17 said:

Stopping cars going through Rouen would triple or quadruple pollution from the cars with stickers- can’t see it happening especially as mainly two lanes with loads of lorries.

Stopping at hotels and car Karl’s in Rouen is a risk.

Bigger risks of road blocks from protesters with gillet jaunes

I’m not sure they are going to stop them there. Much easier to pass the details on to the next Peage like they often do with speeding.

[delta0]

Ordered mine just over 2 weeks ago. Not arrived yet. I have the emailed certificate already at least.

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RL17 said:

Euro 5 or 6 petrol cars in the same Crit Air 1 purple sticker class as plug in hybrids

I thought they were Crit’air 2?

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old'uns said:

Got it. 5 and 6 diesel is 2. Petrol is 1.

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bluetone said:

Official Crit Air website telling me that the sticker was posted 8th April, still not received (21st April...)

Mine was 26th March and received on 15th April. You should have it around next weekend if it takes a similar amount of time to mine.

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RobbyJ said:

When we went through Rouen yesterday lunchtime they were seemingly doing checks at a crossroads by the river. A Policeman stopped me, then pointed at my sticker and my mates and waved us on. They're was another one with binoculars checking cars approaching from the other direction, mainly French cars coming that way.

I think with next year if those proposed cameras go in then the checks will get more consistent and widespread.

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ellroy said:

The Daily Fail have been on about it this week I saw.

Seems it’s all anti-British, anti-Brexit conspiracy to fine peaceable Jonny Bull on his foreign jollies.

Probably running off the back of the ULEZ stories that have dominated the papers. At least the French one is a tiny one time payment for the lifetime of the vehicle.