Milan and Rome restrict care use due to smog

Milan and Rome, two of the largest cities in Italy, are restricting car use as smog levels have risen, international media report.

According to reports, Milan is banning cars, motorcycles and scooters for six hours a day over the next three days, whereas in Rome, cars with odd-numbered plates have been banned for nine hours on Monday and cars with even-numbered plates are to be banned for the same time frame on Tuesday.

Reports add that in Rome, cars deemed to be environmentally friendly, such as those with hybrid engines, will be exempt from the ban, and in Milan, authorities have introduced a special "anti-smog" all-day public transport ticket for €1.50.

The BBC reports that the ban there will be in force for six hours a day until Wednesday, with drivers facing fines if they do not comply.

According to experts, the unusually calm and dry weather has resulted in pollution is not being effectively dispersed.

Quoting the European Environment Agency, the BBC adds that in 2012, Italy had the most pollution-related deaths in Europe, with over 84,000 people in the country dying prematurely owing to bad air quality.

The current ban, is not the first time authorities have tried to curb traffic, with a ban first being tried out in Milan in 2007 and the country being named Europe’s most polluted city in 2008. Rome has also limited traffic due to smog on various occasions.