The number of vehicles clogging up the roads in Paris was sharply reduced on Monday due to anti-pollution measures, according to the authorities.
The reason for the latest restrictions banning half of all traffic in the capital was a nasty smog affecting urban areas across northern France.
Police in Paris were out to enforce the rules authorising only vehicles with licence plates ending in odd numbers.
Similar restrictions were imposed a year ago.
The police reported that morning rush-hour traffic jams were down by a third, and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said that the number of cars on the roads at 9am was 40 percent less than usual.
#Pollution : à cette heure, il y a environ 40% de moins de circulation dans #Paris— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) March 23, 2015
Thousands of motorists who defied the restriction were given on-the-spot fines of 22 euros.
One visitor from outside Paris supported the ban: “It’s a good thing firstly for traffic: it’s much nicer to drive in Pari
