Rome has banned the most polluting vehicles from circulating within the city's green belt (the area inside the GRA ring road) on Tuesday 8 January from 07.30 to 20.30, as part of its anti-smog measures. The ban affects the following vehicles: Euro 0 and 1 petrol-driven cars, Euro 0, 1 and 2 diesel vehicles, and two-, three- and four-wheel 2 and 4-stroke Euro 0-1 vehicles.

The capital has also banned all cars, motorcycles and mopeds with odd-numbered licence plates from circulating within the GRA on Wednesday 9 January from 08.30 to 13.30 and from 16.30 to 20.30. The next day, Thursday 10 January, vehicles with even-numbered plates are governed by the same ban.

Vehicles exempt from adhering to the license plate measures include Euro 5 cars, Euro 2 and Euro 3 motorcycles, and electric-powered vehicles. For a full list of exempted vehicles see city website.

The measures are necessary to reduce high pollution levels which in recent days have exceeded the limits for smog particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The city warned that drivers who fail to observe the anti-smog laws face fines of €155.

Meanwhile a strike will affect 83 bus routes operated by Roma Tpl in the suburbs of Rome on Tuesday 8 January from 11.30 to 15.30.