Drivers urged to check their vehicles as ULEZ expands

Ultra Low Emission Zone covers all areas within North and South Circular

Drivers heading into London have been urged to check their vheicle as the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expands this week.

Close to 10million people have already used Transport for London’s online vehicle checker to date, making sure that their vehicles comply with the new requirements, which came into force on Monday.

Many of those who travel in the zone have already taken action to clean up their vehicles and help clean up London’s air.

More than 80 per cent of vehicles are now compliant, up from 39 per cent in February 2017 when the plans for the larger area were first announced.

TfL said bold action is essential to fight the pollution crisis and the larger ULEZ is predicted to result in harmful nitrogen dioxide being reduced by around 30 per cent across the whole city.

The new zone will run 24 hours, seven days a week (except Christmas Day) and covers all areas within the North and South Circular.

It is estimated that 100,000 cars, 35,000 vans and 3,000 lorries could potentially be affected by the tighter standards in the expanded area every day.

More than a million letters have been sent to those seen driving in the area and more than 600,000 leaflets have been sent to residents living close to the boundary.

Four million emails have been sent to people on TfL’s customer database, and there has been an extensive advertising campaign spanning radio, TV, posters, press, social media and online.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “London’s toxic air is a health crisis causing long-lasting harm to our children and contributing to thousands of premature deaths.

“The Ultra Low Emission Zone has already cut nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half in central London and the expansion of the zone means many more Londoners across the city will enjoy the benefits of cleaner, healthier air.

“We need bold action to clean up London’s air and whilst it’s encouraging that four out of five vehicles now meet the current standards and won’t have to pay the ULEZ charge, I advise all drivers to use the TfL checker to make sure your vehicle is ULEZ compliant.

“Our scrappage scheme will continue supporting motorists to ditch their polluting cars and make the switch to greener forms of transport as we drive towards a green recovery.”

Alex Williams, TfL’s director of city planning, said: “The benefits of the larger ULEZ won’t just be felt from day one of its operation.

“Compliance with the tough standards has more than doubled since the Mayor announced the plans, with the result being Londoners breathing cleaner air over the last four years.

“We don’t want drivers to get caught out, so we are advising people to use our checker to see if their vehicle meets the standards.

“If they are liable for the charge we would ask them to consider using public transport, or to walk or cycle if possible, and if they need to drive, consider using a car club whose fleets are fully ULEZ compliant, or switching to the cleanest vehicle.”

Visit tfl.gov.uk/modes/ driving/check-your-vehicle/ to check your vehicle.