A report evaluating the first month of London’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone has found that nearly three quarters of vehicles driving into the zone were compliant with the new standards.
The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which came into effect on 8 April, operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – with charges calculated on the emissions a vehicle produces, rather than its age.
It operates in addition to the Congestion Charging Zone (CCZ) – meaning those travelling in affected areas during the CCZ’s operating time (7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) have to pay both tolls.
Vehicles can be checked using TfL’s online checker but generally, those impacted by the new ULEZ are:
- Motorbikes that do not meet Euro 3 standards (pre-2007 vehicles)
- Petrol cars and vans that do not meet Euro 4 standards (vehicles pre-2006)
- Diesel cars and vans that do not meet Euro 6 standards (vehicles pre-2015)
First month evaluation of the ULEZ, published on 16 May, shows that 74% of vehicles driving into the zone were compliant with the new standards.
During CCZ operating hours, 71% of vehicles were compliant – up from 39% in February 2017, and 61% in March 2019.
In total, there were around 9,400 fewer older, more polluting, non-compliant vehicles seen in the zone per day, a reduction of 26%.
Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, said: “Today’s report shows how bold action reaps rewards – just one month after launching the world’s first ULEZ, we have already seen a significant impact on the types of vehicles driving in the centre of our capital and polluting our air.
“These were big changes, and vital ones – our toxic air is an invisible killer responsible for one of the biggest national health emergencies of our generation.”
Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city planning, said: “Everyone benefits from clean air, which is why it is great to see that so many people have responded to the ULEZ, which has resulted in a reduction in the number of polluting vehicles in the capital.
“The ULEZ will nearly halve road-based NOx emissions in central London, and in addition to our work to green up the bus fleet and encourage the taxi industry to switch to cleaner vehicles, together we will help to tackle this public health crisis.”
17 May 2019