- Estimated 1.9m vehicle journeys in
the capital deemed non-ULEZ compliant each month, compared to
just 329,527 in the original zone
- Proportion of non-compliant
vehicles issued with Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) following
expansion initially increased before dropping back
Ahead of the first anniversary of the expansion of London’s
Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover a much larger area, RAC
analysis of Transport for London (TfL) figures* reveals the move
has generated an estimated £93.6m of additional revenue from
drivers of non-compliant vehicles having to pay £12.50 a day.
The data shows that since the beginning of November 2021 until
June 2022 – a period of eight months – an average of 1.9m
journeys were made into the zone every month by vehicles not
conforming to either Euro 6 diesel standards or Euro 4 petrol
standards, resulting in £112.5m worth of revenue from those
vehicles required to pay.**
By way of comparison between February and September 2021 prior to
the ULEZ expansion, 329,527 journeys on average were made every
month by non-compliant vehicles within the original central
London boundaries, resulting in revenues of just under £19m.
These figures do not include TfL revenues for penalty charge
notices (PCNs) issued to drivers for non-payment of the ULEZ
charge. Data shows that in the first eight months since the
expansion, an estimated 1.6m PCNs have been issued, compared to
just 253,357 in the eight months prior to the boundary changes.
Given the £160 fine amount (£80 for early payment), the RAC
estimates the potential income from PCNs issued to drivers in the
expanded zone is between £130.9m and £261.9m***, compared to
between £20.3m to £40.5m in the eight months in the original
central London boundaries.
Prior to expansion, around 13.1% of all vehicles were deemed
non-compliant with emission standards. After expansion, this fell
to 6.9%. The proportion of non-compliant vehicles issued with a
PCN averaged 9.6% within the original zone, rising to 14.2% in
the first two months of the expanded zone before falling back to
the same average proportions that were prevalent in the old zone.
It should be noted that around three-in-10 (28.5%) non-compliant
vehicles were not required to pay the ULEZ****.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The expansion of
the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in 2021 meant a far larger
geographical area was covered by the mayor’s strict vehicle
emissions standards. For many, this meant a very stark choice:
either replace their vehicle with a compliant model or face
paying the £12.50 daily charge. Failing to pay the charge wasn’t
an option either as it would result in a hefty penalty charge
notice.
“The expansion of the ULEZ has resulted in a much-increased
revenue stream for Transport for London, notwithstanding the
costs associated with introducing the larger ULEZ. Londoners
living outside the current ULEZ will now be worrying about the
prospect of further expansion, mooted to be at the end of August
2023.
“While we accept that action is needed to reduce toxic emissions
from vehicles, the cost-of-living crisis is hurting drivers in
the pocket and there is a risk that further enlarging the zone
will be hugely costly for those with older vehicles who can least
afford to change them for something newer.
“As it is, RAC research suggests drivers are holding on to
their vehicles for longer, so there is a real risk that more
people with non-compliant vehicles will be forced to pay a charge
they can ill afford to.
“We would encourage the mayor to take a pragmatic approach and
redouble his efforts to support lower-income families and
businesses with non-compliant vehicles with a targeted scrappage
scheme ahead of any expansion plans.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
* https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/ultra-low-emission-zone
** A proportion of non-compliant vehicles do
not pay the charge
*** Though PCNs are £160, they are reduced to £80 if paid
within 14 days. The figures do not take into consideration
successful appeals, hence stating above: ‘value of PCNs issued’.
Some drivers would have been issued with warning letters instead
of PCNs in the early weeks of November 2021
**** https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions
