Public transport was free and cars with odd registration numbers were banned in Paris on Tuesday because of a rise in pollution levels linked to cold weather.
Major towns in the Rhone Valley and the Alps also suffered from high levels of fine particles, which have triggered a rise in respiratory problems.
Officials on Tuesday declared that only cars with even-number license plates could be used in Paris and 22 surrounding towns on Tuesday, bowing to a call by Mayor Anne Hidalgo last week, AFP reported.
However, electric or hybrid vehicles and vehicles with more than three people on board were allowed to drive.
Making public transportation free could cost the city €4 million in revenues.
According to The Local, the city's measures to combat the crisis was off to a shaky start as two commuter lines saw serious delays due to electrical faults.
Furthermore, the roads, which were supposed to be less busy than usual, saw 370 kilometers worth of traffic jams at around 9 a.m.
If pollution levels do not improve, the restrictions will be imposed on Wednesday, with one exception: This time vehicles with odd-number license plates will be allowed to ply the streets. According to the Agency for Environment and Energy Management, in Ile-de-France, road traffic is responsible for two-thirds of nitrogen dioxide emissions and 55% of small particulate emissions in Paris.
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