Limited traffic zone

File:Italian traffic signs - zona traffico limitato (figura II 322-a).svg

Limited traffic zone (LTZ) is type of restricted traffic area found in many historic European city centres where non-residents and unauthorized vehicles are prohibited from driving at certain times.{{cite web |title=Limited traffic zone in Italy |url=https://www.evz.de/en/travelling-motor-vehicles/motor-vehicles/limited-traffic-zone-in-italy.html |website=European Consumer Centre Germany |access-date=2 August 2022 |date=15 July 2022}} These areas are relatively abundant in Italy, where they are called {{lang|it|zona a traffico limitato}} (ZTL), but they also exist in Spain, Portugal, France (zone à trafic limité) and Poland with different names. Around 350 Italian cities have LTZs, and 250 have low-emission zones (LEZs), usually enforced with camera surveillance.{{Cite web |url=http://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainmenu-147/italy-mainmenu-81 |title=Italy |website=Urban Access Regulations in Europe}} They help protect historic city centres from excessive traffic, which would otherwise make the city less attractive. They can also be aimed at limiting pollution levels or at increasing administrative revenue by paying an urban toll.{{cite web |title=Calendario Storico 2017 |url=http://www.comune.priologargallo.sr.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Calendario-Storico-versione-definitiva_compressed_2017.pdf |publisher=Comune of Priolo Gargallo |access-date=2 August 2022 |language=Italian |date=2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307210813/http://www.comune.priologargallo.sr.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Calendario-Storico-versione-definitiva_compressed_2017.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2022 |url-status=live |quote=Tra gli scopi di questo provvedimento si annoverano: ... aumentare le entrate amministrative anche con l’eventuale pagamento di un pedaggio urbano |trans-title=Historical Calendar 2017 |trans-quote=The purposes of this provision include: ... increasing administrative revenues also with the eventual payment of an urban toll}}

In France

In October 2012, Nantes was the first French city to adopt the concept of an LTZ in the city center.{{cite web |title=Opération ZTL : zone à trafic limité |url=http://www.nantesmetropole.fr/decouverte/les-grands-projets/operation-ztl-zone-a-trafic-limite-transport-et-deplacements-51907.kjsp |publisher=Nantes Métropole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406030543/http://www.nantesmetropole.fr/decouverte/les-grands-projets/operation-ztl-zone-a-trafic-limite-transport-et-deplacements-51907.kjsp |archive-date=6 April 2016 |language=French |date=15 October 2014 |url-status=dead |trans-title=ZTL Operation: Limited Traffic Zone}}

Paris implemented a limited traffic zone in November 2024.

[https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2024/11/01/central-paris-to-ban-through-motor-traffic-from-next-week/ Central Paris To Limit Through Motor Traffic From Next Week] Forbes, Carlton Reid, November 1, 2024

The zone à trafic limité (ZTL) will be in the first, second, third and fourth arrondissements in an area of 5.5 sq km that includes the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens, and much of Avenue de l'Opéra.{{cite news |last1=Samuel |first1=Henry |title=Paris to restrict cars from city centre in controversial Socialist scheme |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/11/02/paris-limited-traffic-zone-anne-hidalgo-mayor-socialist/ |work=The Telegraph |date=2 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Paris set to limit traffic in the city's central core |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/10/31/paris-set-to-limit-traffic-in-the-city-s-central-core_6731149_114.html |work=Le Monde |date=October 31, 2024}} No through traffic will be allowed. From 2026 there will be LTZ in all arrondissements of Paris.

In Italy

In most Italian cities that have a zona a traffico limitato (ZTL), vehicles transporting people with disability are allowed when displaying the appropriate badge. As Article 47 of the Italian Traffic Code ({{lang|it|Codice della Strada}}) defines bicycles as vehicles, cycling is only allowed if specified on the road sign. Unauthorized movement of vehicles in a ZTL is punishable by a fine under Article 7(14) in conjunction with the relevant city ordinance, and the fine is between 83 and 332 euros.{{cite act |type=Decree |index=285 |date=30 April 1992 |article=7 |legislature=Italian law |title=Nuovo codice della strada |trans-title=New Traffic Code |url=https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:1992-04-30;285 |language=Italian |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214144748/https://www.bosettiegatti.eu/info/norme/statali/1992_0285.htm |archive-date=14 February 2022 |url-status=live}}

In 2009 the city of Florence issued an average of 1,253 traffic tickets a day, for an annual revenue of 52 million euro. The fines tripled over the previous ten-year period. In the same year revenues from traffic fines in Milan were 81 million euro. About 53% of these fines come from LTZ violations.{{cite web |url=https://www.theflorentine.net/2009/02/12/too-much-of-a-bad-thing/ |title=Too much of a bad thing |date=February 12, 2009 |website=The Florentine |access-date=February 20, 2021}}

= Entrance signs =

File:ZTL Rome 04 2016 6064.JPG, with automatic surveillance.]]

The sign indicating the start of the ZTL is composed of a series of panels. The first, mandatory, has a square shape and contains the "no vehicles" sign and the written zona traffico limitato. Below this signal other panels are placed are positioned according to the type of ZTL. Panels are provided to indicate the period of validity, exceptions or limitations to the prohibition, report the presence of an electronic gate or provide telephone numbers to obtain information on the ZTL.

To allow drivers to immediately understand if the ZTL is active, municipal administrations often integrate road signs with electronic displays indicating, for example, ZTL attiva (ZTL active) or ZTL non attiva (ZTL inactive).

Image:ztl_1.jpg|Aosta

Image:ZTL Aoste rue de Vevey.JPG|Aosta (via Vevey, bilingual)

Image:ZTL Etroubles VdA.JPG|Etroubles

Image:Cartello ZTL Palermo.jpg|Palermo (inactive at night)

Image:Padova juil 09 25 (8380758368).jpg|Padova (active only on workdays and inactive at night)

Image:Torino 2007 45 (8193234494).jpg|Torino (active in different periods for different vehicles)

= Notice signs =

The warning signs of a ZTL are not expressly provided for in the regulations implementing the Italian Traffic Code and therefore are created in analogy to the warning signs of urban intersection.{{Cite web |url=https://www.piemmenews.it/ufficio-studi/circolazione-stradale/prassi-circolazione-stradale/16314-m-i-t-circ-28-06-2019-n-5050-linee-guida-sulla-regolamentazione-della-circolazione-stradale-e-segnaletica-nelle-zone-a-traffico-limitato |title=Linee guida per la regolamentazione della circolazione stradale e segnaletica nelle zone a traffico limitato |language=Italian |trans-title=Guidelines for the regulation of road traffic and signs in limited traffic zones |date=28 June 2019 |access-date=30 July 2022 |publisher=Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of Italy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412155354/https://www.piemmenews.it/ufficio-studi/circolazione-stradale/prassi-circolazione-stradale/16314-m-i-t-circ-28-06-2019-n-5050-linee-guida-sulla-regolamentazione-della-circolazione-stradale-e-segnaletica-nelle-zone-a-traffico-limitato |archive-date=12 April 2021 |url-status=live}}

These signs must in any case contain the symbol of the ZTL, if possible integrated with all the panels present on the sign placed at the access gate. However, given that very often it is not possible to reproduce all the indications present on the main signal, the Ministry of Transport has established that the warning sign cannot contain more than two panels, to be chosen between:

a time slot panel and a vehicle category panel
two panels relating to two categories of vehicles (see {{ill|Symbols in Italian traffic signs|it|Simboli nella segnaletica verticale italiana}})

Examples of generic warning signs, without supplementary panels:

Italian_traffic_signs_-_preavviso_ZTL_sinistro.svg

Italian_traffic_signs_-_preavviso_ZTL_dritto.svg

Italian_traffic_signs_-_preavviso_ZTL_destra.svg

In Poland

In October 1988, Kraków implemented an LTZ in its city center.{{Cite web |url=https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainmenu-147/poland/krakow-ltz |title=Krakow - Limited Traffic Zone |website=Urban Access Regulations in Europe}}

In the UK

In June 2022, Newcastle upon Tyne introduced School Streets with similar restrictions.{{Cite web |url=https://urbanaccessregulations.eu/countries-mainmenu-147/united-kingdom-mainmenu-205/newcastle-limited-traffic-zone |title=Newcastle - Limited Traffic Zone |website=Urban Access Regulations in Europe}}{{cite news |title=Parent traffic banned from Newcastle school drop off area |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-61504660 |access-date=13 August 2022 |work=BBC News |date=19 May 2022}}

Navigation software support

Most satellite navigation software does not avoid LTZs.{{cite web |title=A guide to Italy ZTL Zones |url=https://www.questor-insurance.co.uk/blog?id=12280 |website=Questor Insurance |access-date=2 August 2022 |date=21 October 2021}} Waze added support for LTZs in select cities in 2018.{{cite web |title=Driving Smarter and Greener with Waze for ZTL & Crit'Air |url=https://medium.com/waze/driving-smarter-and-greener-with-waze-for-ztl-critair-b10080a6f91a |website=Medium |access-date=2 August 2022 |date=9 August 2018}}

Controversies

Since foreign tourists are unaccustomed to ZTLs, and since most navigation software does not alert drivers to avoid them, infringements for entering a ZTL are a particular point of concern for this group. ZTL infringement notices often reach them by post several months after their stay in Italy, sometimes more than one year later{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Christopher |title=When in Rome, Watch Your Driving |url=https://www.frommers.com/tips/health-and-travel-insurance/when-in-rome-watch-your-driving |website=Frommer's |access-date=1 August 2022 |date=2010}} sometimes with an administration fee added by the car rental company. Unauthorized entry into a ZTL is the most frequent fine received by drivers of rental cars, much more than speeding or parking fines.{{cite web |title=Come funziona la normativa delle ZTL vigente in Italia |url=https://www.fleetmagazine.com/normativa-come-funziona-ztl-italia/ |website=Fleet Magazine |access-date=2 August 2022 |language=Italian |date=28 August 2019 |trans-title=How does the current ZTL legislation in Italy work?}} Many tourists are unaware of ZTL regulations, or misinterpret signage at entrances.{{cite web |title=Driving in Italy: Traffic Fines and Toll |url=https://www.euroconsumatori.org/en/driving_in_italy |website=European Consumer Centre Bolzano |access-date=1 August 2022}} The process is considered dubious by tourists and consumer associations because the signs indicating the prohibition of access to the ZTL are often not very visible and written in Italian.{{cite web |title=L'Italie met ses touristes à l'amende |url=http://www.60millions-mag.com/actualites/archives/l_italie_met_ses_touristes_a_l_amende |website=60 millions de Consommateurs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424193643/http://www.60millions-mag.com/actualites/archives/l_italie_met_ses_touristes_a_l_amende |archive-date=24 April 2012 |language=French |date=27 July 2010 |url-status=dead |trans-title=Italy fines its tourists}} In addition, the price of fine is high, at around 100 euros.