The Hoy No Circula measures to restrict vehicle traffic concluded and the new Emergency Vehicle Verification Regulations went into effect Friday. Vehicles with 0 and 00 stickers will now be able to circulate all days.
For 74 days, circulation was restricted in the Valley of Mexico for 88.6 million vehicles. According to the Megalopolis Environmental Commission (CAMe), this resulted in a 35 percent reduction in carbon monoxide pollution and a 30 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide.
Additional modifications to the Environmental Emergency Program did away with the pre-emergency phase and adjusted the threshold activation levels to Phases 1 and 2. These measures resulted in improved air quality during April and June, when the Metropolitan Air Quality Index (IMECA) level did not surpass 200 points.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Secretariat (Semarnat) and the CAMe consider a wide range of measures to improve air quality in the Valley of Mexico, with the support of a scientific assessment committee, civil society organizations, academics and industrial sectors.
The emergency regulations will allow the modernization of vehicle verification processes, including the introduction of on-board diagnostic systems (OBD). This technology will allow for a faster and more reliable verification process, so that vehicles that pollute less will be able to circulate all days.
The new regulations will be in effect for six months, and could be extended up to one year.
