A new government decree will force mapping applications such as Google Maps, Waze, Citymapper or Apple Maps to adapt the routes offered to encourage their users to drive greener.
Since August 5, a decree published in the Official Journal has changed the rules for applications that help you in your travels, such as Apple Plans, Google Maps, Waze, Mappy or even Citymapper. Thus, certain information intended for the public will be standardized to offer more “responsible” and ecological modes of travel.
The government will make you change your route to drive greener
The objective is clear: to make users aware of the impact on the environment and their health of their daily journeys. To do this, transport applications (Moovit, Bonjour RATP, etc.) will have to “put forward proposed routes with the lowest impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions”.
Thus, the applications will have to offer alternative routes (less polluting) to reduce the speed by 20 km/h if the car journey includes a portion on which the maximum authorized speed is greater than or also 110 km/h. To do this, users will then be redirected to secondary voices.
To avoid “the massive use of secondary roads not planned for intensive traffic”, the applications must also “strive to offer” relief routes, with a few exceptions: if the proposed detours save more than 10% the remaining travel time or that there are works or accidents on the main track.
When planning a trip, users will then see an estimate of the amount of greenhouse gases and pollutants emitted into the air (nitrogen oxide and particulates, PM10) by the different trips. Those with the lowest environmental impact will then be suggested.
Awareness messages displayed on the applications
As of December 2022, awareness messages will be displayed on apps for people considering a car trip. Thus, we will be able to see phrases like “Going from 130 to 110 km/h on the motorway reduces your consumption by 20%” or even “For short journeys, favor walking or cycling”.
After “Eat move”, the government would push the slogan “#SeDéplacerLesPolluer”, already present on advertisements intended to sell cars, on the applications most used for travel.
From the end of the year, the applications concerned will have to highlight “soft” modes of transport by indicating “data relating to the cycle network, carpooling areas and parking”. Users should also be aware of low emission zones. Google Maps, Waze and others will then have until the end of 2023 to display all the offers of shared vehicles such as bicycles, public transport or even scooters.
Source :
Legifrance