Spanish capital reactivates anti-pollution protocol

MADRID, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Madrid City Hall on Thursday once again put into effect the second level of its anti-contamination protocols.

Anti-pollution protocols have been put in place in the capital city five times since September, and it is the third time in less than two months that the second level has been implemented.

Drivers will have to respect a maximum speed limit of 70 km per hour on the Spanish capital's M-30 ring road and main access roads into the city. Parking is forbidden in a wide area of the city center for everyone other than residents or those with either electric or hybrid vehicles. Citizens are advised to use public transport whenever possible.

The decision was taken after 10 monitoring stations in Madrid measured levels of over 180 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) per cubic meter for a period of over two hours on Wednesday.

Two stations in the north of the capital even measured levels of 300 micrograms of NO2 per cubic meter for a period of around an hour, City Hall informed.

The last time level two of the anti-pollution protocol was put into effect was in the second half of November. Drivers were forbidden to park in the city center for a week, during which time there was a 5- percent reduction in traffic circulation in the city center.

Rain is expected at the weekend so it appears the restrictions will not be needed for as long. Enditem