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Rome, Milan clamp down on cars as smog smothers Italy

ROME (AP) – Rome and Milan have ordered no-car days next week to combat pollution, which has hit unhealthy levels for weeks mainly because no rain has fallen to wash away the smog. Cars were partially banished from the streets of Milan and Rome on Monday as Italy battled a buildup of health-threatening pollution caused by freakishly dry and warm winter weather.

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The Italian city’s “no-car” days are rather conservative, ordering only private vehicles off the streets for six hours a day.


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Italy’s Green Party held a protest in Rome over the smog emergency, calling for it to become a government priority.


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Traffic restrictions were also in place in the southern city of Naples, where only vehicles operating to Euro 4 emissions standards or higher are allowed circulate this week.

All that is set to change from New Year’s Eve when icy air will blast in from the east, sending temperatures across the Italian peninsular plummeting to a low single digit.

In 2012, the European Environment Agency found that the country had the most pollution-related deaths in Europe.

Plus, the ban is only for six hours in the middle of the day; commuters will still be able to drive to and from work.

A cyclist pedals in downtown Milan, Italy, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015. The Mayor of Milan Giuliano Pisapia stated [press release, in Italian] that concerted effort is necessary to address the problem.

“The measure does not bring the city to a standstill but it does have a strong deterrent effect”.

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If there was ever a good reason to go green, it would be now especially when you hear about how more cities around the world are experiencing increased amounts of smog due to the pollution emitted from regular vehicles.

Milan has banned private cars from the city's roads for six hours a day to tackle smog