Oncomming low emission zones can be expected soon in Slovakia. Following the example of Western Europe and especially Germany, more stringent environmental standards can be expected in the near future in our cities. The result will be the implementation of so called low emission zones (LEZ). Their aim is to reduce the number of older cars in the center of our cities. Basically, in the first place the city (village) will make a study, on the basis of which will indicates single areas of the city with low emsission zone symbol. Vehicle owners will have so called emission plate on the windscreen. Emission zone, where the vehicle can enter, will be marked on this plate. When the plate does not meet the emission limits or have worse emission plate, the vehicle will not be able to enter this area of the city (village).
Otherwise there will be a fine as a sanction. Such system is established in Germany and other western countries. Older diesel vehicles are worse at this point. These vehicles are often unfiltered and have high black carbon emissions or are fitted with diesel particulate filter which produces much more small particles.
This system already works in Germany. In the Czech Republic, as for Prague the complete study has been already made for instance. Also other cities in the Czech Republic are working on such studies. Slovakia also leads a big discussion on this topic. Naturally, first should begin the realization in larger cities. Creating emission zones can also be expected in a spa town, in extraordinary protected landscape areas and also everywhere where there is a significant increase limit pollutants in the air.