City of Light Traffic

Paris, Edinburgh Contemplate London-Style Traffic Fees

Thousands of miles from Tokyo, France and Scotland are trying to figure out what to do about their own traffic-induced pollution problems. The French government is considering instituting a toll for vehicles entering Paris, which is suffering from severe pollution as a result of heavy traffic combined with consistently high summer temperatures. Meanwhile, in Scotland, the Edinburgh city council voted to move forward with a plan to charge drivers roughly $3.25 to enter the city in an effort to limit congestion and pollution. The money would be used to fund public transportation projects. Both the French and Scottish measures are modeled after the successful $8 "congestion charge" introduced by London Mayor Ken Livingstone in February.