What the 'Z' icon on Google Maps route details represents

Google Maps displays a circled 'Z' icon to alert motorists that their planned route goes through a low-emission zone. These zones restrict older and more polluting vehicles by banning them, charging fees, or requiring specific windshield stickers, varying by city across countries like Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and the UK. While Google Maps highlights the presence of these zones and provides links to official city pages, the app does not know a specific vehicle's emissions class. Drivers must check if their car qualifies to avoid receiving a fine, or choose alternative routes and transportation.