Paris has taken drastic measures to curb soaring pollution levels by forcing all cars with number plates ending in even numbers off the road for the first time in two decades.
Around 700 police officers were deployed to man 60 checkpoints around the French capital to ensure that only cars with number plates ending in ‘odd’ numbers were out on the streets.
Public transport has been free since the weekend to persuade Parisians to leave their cars at home, and the state railway company SNCF warned on its website of packed suburban trains at peak hours due to the extreme measure.
“It is sure we will have more clients today,” a delighted taxi driver told AFP.
