ECJ rules Austrian lorry ban illegal

The court recognised that limiting the volume of lorry traffic on the A12 would improve air quality and that this could also be achieved at least partially via traffic bans, but it also said not enough ‘less restrictive measures’ had been taken to improve air quality. It suggested in particular turning the current variable speed limit into a 100 km/h fixed speed limit, sharper differentiation of lorry charges on the basis of Euro classes, increasing diesel tax, and inclusion of more levels of Euro classes in the ban.