These cars, vans, buses and minibuses can no longer circulate within the LEZ, which covers the 19 municipalities of Brussels. Around 76,500 vehicles aged 11 and over, registered in Belgium and circulating in the Brussels Region, are concerned (including 25,000 registered in Brussels).
According to Bruxelles Environnement, this is the latest generation of diesel vehicles which must not be fitted with a particulate filter. They therefore pollute more and emit large quantities of fine particles.
A transition period is planned for three months until April 1, 2022, from which date offending drivers will receive a fine of 350 euros.
Brussels Environment expects a significant effect. According to a study that evaluated 130,000 different vehicles in real conditions in the capital, Euro 4 diesel cars were responsible for almost half of the particulate emissions measured at the tailpipe and a quarter of the emissions of nitrogen oxides. while they only represented 12% of the tested vehicle fleet.
According to the European Environment Agency, air pollution causes around 9,000 premature deaths each year in Belgium, including 1,000 in Brussels, as well as cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
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