France to restrict vehicles use on Monday unless air pollution eases: minister

French Ecology Minister Segolene Royal on Friday said to limit the use of private cars and trucks on Monday unless spikes in air pollution reported this week go down.

"On Monday, there will be alternating traffic unless there is a clear decline in pollution tomorrow and after tomorrow," Royal said.

He also announced all public transport will be free over the weekend to reduce the toxic smog and encourage citizens to use clean transports such as Velib and Autolib which are public sharing services for bicycles and electric cars.

Adding to that, officials recommended reducing driving speeds and avoiding intense physical activity outdoors as well as outdoor walks with children.

Earlier in the day, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo reiterated calls on national authorities to limit vehicles traffic on Saturday due to pollution alert in France's northern region, including the capital city of Paris.

According to Airparif Association, an environmental body responsible for monitoring air quality, the pollution index was at 93 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg/m3) on Friday due to increased amounts of pollutant PM10.

The safe limit for PM10 is set at 80 mcg/m3, it said.

The increase in pollution level was caused by searing temperatures, heating up traffic and industrial pollutants and the hot air re-circulating slowly across densely populated northern France and the capital. Endit