Classic News
Danny Hopkins on why we need more clarity around ULEZS
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Since it was launched in London in April 2019, more than 3,000,000 drivers have paid the ULEZ daily charge, and over 300,000 penalty charge notices (PCNS) have been handed out to drivers for nonpayment of that charge. Back in in October, one of the offenders was me.
I was visiting the Imperial War Museum for a weekend event and I was carrying costumes and kit, so I used my 1998 Toyota Avensis estate. Now, I’m not complaining about the charge, but there are grounds for having a gripe about its implementation. Because I was simply not aware that the Imperial War Museum was inside the ULEZ zone, I didn’t know my car wasn’t ULEZ compliant and I thought, like the congestion charge, that ULEZ didn’t operate at weekends.
All wrong and I should have checked before starting my journey, yes.
However, I think that TFL also has a responsibility to make sure the rules of ULEZ and the precise area it covers is clearly signposted and publicised widely, especially outside London.
If it doesn’t do this it just looks like revenue generation, and boy, has it generated revenue – over £40 million in the period since April last year. That can’t be good PR, can it?
I’m £160 down on the deal. I had no idea that I was breaking any law and I edit a car magazine – so I count myself as reasonably well informed. I’m also an environmentalist, I’m well aware that we have to make sacrifices and change habits in order to help the planet, but criminalising well-meaning people like this doesn’t help.
At its worst it just makes us angry.
If we are to achieve a greener Britain, public opinion matters. Getting us onside is crucial, but it won’t happen unless the authorities play fair.
‘The rules of ULEZ need to be properly publicised’