No Hoy No Circula in Mexico City & State of Mexico This Sunday: Air Quality Improves
- Mexico City residents can breathe a sigh of relief – the “Hoy No Circula” vehicle restriction program will not be in effect this Sunday, February 15th.
- CAMe reported that forecasts indicate better conditions for pollutant dispersion, as the strong anticyclonic system that impacted the region earlier in the week has weakened.
- The “Hoy No Circula” program, designed to reduce vehicle emissions, typically restricts circulation based on the last digit of license plates.
Mexico City residents can breathe a sigh of relief – the “Hoy No Circula” vehicle restriction program will not be in effect this . The decision comes after improvements in air quality, according to the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe).
CAMe reported that forecasts indicate better conditions for pollutant dispersion, as the strong anticyclonic system that impacted the region earlier in the week has weakened. This marks an end to three consecutive days of air quality concerns that prompted the activation of Phase 1 of the environmental contingency plan.
The “Hoy No Circula” program, designed to reduce vehicle emissions, typically restricts circulation based on the last digit of license plates. However, is traditionally exempt from these restrictions, as traffic volumes are naturally lower due to reduced work and commercial activity.
Why Were Restrictions in Place Earlier This Week?
The recent contingency was triggered by elevated ozone levels. From , a “Double Hoy No Circula” was activated after the Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera station in the Coyoacán borough registered 155 parts per billion (ppb) of ozone. The restrictions continued through the weekend as pollutant levels remained high, impacting vehicles with Holograma 1 and 2 stickers, as well as those with verification hologram 0 and 00, blue stickers and plates ending in 9 or 0.
As of , the Atizapán station in the State of Mexico still recorded a maximum concentration of 156 ppb of ozone.
How Does “Hoy No Circula” Work?
CAMe explains that the vehicle restriction scheme is designed to operate from , coinciding with peak periods for work, school, and commerce. The aim is to reduce emissions during times of high traffic density. Because generally experience lower traffic, restrictions are not deemed necessary.
The Mexico City Environmental Secretariat (Sedema) clarifies that, under normal circumstances, all vehicles are permitted to circulate on regardless of their hologram, sticker color, or plate number. What we have is part of the official program calendar.
An exception to this rule occurs only when an environmental contingency is declared. In such cases, CAMe may implement additional restrictions, even on , to protect public health in response to high pollution levels.