ULEZ Expansion Drains Drivers’ Wallets: £112.5m Raked In in Eight Months
London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) crackdown is hitting drivers hard. From November 2021 to June 2022, nearly 2 million trips each month were made by non-compliant vehicles inside the expanded ULEZ. These drivers forked out a massive £112.5 million in charges.
Revenues Skyrocket After ULEZ Expansion
Before the ULEZ boundary grew, in early 2021, just over 329,000 non-compliant trips were made monthly in central London, generating under £19 million. But post-expansion, the numbers have exploded.
- The first eight months saw 1.9 million monthly journeys by non-compliant vehicles in the new zone.
- Transport for London also issued approximately 1.6 million penalty charge notices (PCNs), compared to 253,000 before the expansion.
- With fines set at £160 (£80 if paid early), the RAC estimates PCN income at between £130.9m and £261.9m since expansion.
Fewer Non-Compliant Vehicles But More Fines
Expansion has cut the proportion of non-compliant vehicles on London’s roads from 13.1% to 6.9%. Yet the percentage of these vehicles slapped with fines increased initially to 14.2% before settling back to around 9.6%.
However, almost three in ten non-compliant vehicles (28.5%) didn’t have to pay the charge, highlighting some exemptions.
RAC Warns of Rising Costs Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis
“The ULEZ expansion forced many to choose: upgrade or pay up,” said Nicholas Lyes, RAC head of roads policy. “The larger zone means more revenue for TfL but comes with steep costs for struggling drivers.
“The cost-of-living crisis makes upgrading vehicles tough for many. Drivers are keeping older cars longer, so more face charges they can’t afford.”
Lyes urges the Mayor to support low-income families and businesses with a scrappage scheme before pushing ahead with further ULEZ expansion, expected in August 2023.
Want to know more about London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone? Stay tuned for updates.
