Court orders first diesel driving ban on German Autobahn

A court in the western German city of Gelsenkirchen has ordered the first driving ban for older diesel cars on an Autobahn, the German highway famous for its long sections without speed limits. The court ruled that the city of Essen in federal state North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has to set up perimeters within which diesel cars would be banned in the city centre, an area that also includes part of the major highway A40, which runs through the city. It also imposed bans for several roads in Gelsenkirchen. Bans for diesel cars up to the emissions standard Euro 5 will be introduced by July 2019, the court said in a press release. The court decided on a lawsuit filed by NGO Environmental Action Germany (DUH) and said driving bans were the only way to ensure the city abides by air pollution limitation plans and protects the health of citizens.

Find the press release in German here.

See CLEW's Q&A on diesel driving bans for background.