Clean air zones may price cars off the road: Half a million drivers might not be able to afford fees to enter eco-friendly cities, motoring group warns
- Half a million motorists in London and Birmingham face clean air zone charges
- Birmingham is introducing a clean air zone on June 1, with a daily fee of £8
- London’s ultra low emission zone to be expanded on October 25, fee of £12.50
Up to half a million motorists in London and Birmingham face being ‘priced off the road’ due to clean air zone charges.
The AA said drivers who use their cars for essential journeys may not be able to afford the fees for city driving.
Birmingham is introducing a clean air zone on June 1, while London’s ultra low emission zone will be expanded on October 25.
Drivers are charged for entering certain areas in vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards. Daily fees are £12.50 in London and will be £8 in Birmingham.
Half a million drivers will be denied access to the two inner cities of London and Birmingham or face charges, according to the AA (stock photo)
The AA estimates the capital’s residents own between 250,000 and 300,000 non-compliant cars.
A further 100,000 vehicles liable for the charge normally enter the city from outside the expanded Ulez zone each day, with the same amount of affected cars owned by people living in Birmingham.
That means up to half a million drivers will be denied access to the two inner cities or face charges, according to the AA.
Edmund King, AA president, commented: ‘Millions of drivers in London will find themselves on the wrong side of the road when the Ulez scheme is expanded.
A red Tesla Model 3 parked and charging on a London street, June 2020
‘There is a very real risk that many people who rely on their car for essential journeys will be priced off the road.
‘With the whole country back in lockdown, this is likely to have an even bigger impact than previously thought as more people will be trying to avoid public transport by using private cars.’
He added that it can be cheaper to lease a new car from the AA – that complies with the latest emissions standards – than pay daily city access charges.