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Controversial but beneficial

London’s Low Emission Zone has gone live. Nick Fairholme, Head of the Low Emission Zone at Transport for London, explains why the scheme was introduced, how it works and what its benefits will be

The London Low Emission Zone came into force across most of Greater London on 4 February 2008. The aim of the scheme is to improve London’s air quality and accelerate the capital’s progress towards meeting national and European air quality objectives designed to protect human health.

The zone is in force 24 hours a day, every day of the year and targets the most individually polluting lorries, buses and coaches. Vehicles that do not meet the required emissions standards have to pay a daily charge of up to £200 to drive in the zone or face a fine of up to £1,000 per day.

London has the worst air quality in the UK and among the worst in Europe. While other cities in Europe have introduced or are planning similar schemes, the London Low Emission Zone is the first in the UK and the largest of its type in the world, covering almost 1580 sq kilometres.

It targets emissions of particulate matter, which affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and can carry carcinogenic compounds into the lungs. Particulate matter can worsen existing lung disease and increase the sensitivity to allergens of people with asthma and hay fever. It is estimated that every year around 1,000 premature deaths and a similar number of hospital admissions occur due to poor air quality in London.

Aimed at the most polluting diesel-engined lorries, buses and coaches, vehicles travelling within the Low Emission Zone must meet the Euro III standard for particulate matter to drive within Greater London without charge.

The scheme initially affects lorries over 12 tonnes, and from 7 July 2008 will be extended to include lorries over 3.5 tonnes, buses and coaches. In October 2010 the scheme extends to large vans (LGVs) and minibuses. And it is not just commercial vehicles that are affected: owners of large motorised caravans, horseboxes and other specialist vehicles need to be aware of the Low Emission Zone and check that their vehicle complies with the scheme if they want to continue to travel within Greater London without charge. Operators are warned to think long-term as the scheme standards rise for lorries, buses and coaches in January 2012 to Euro IV for particulate matter. Cars and motorcycles will not be affected.

In London, two thirds of emissions of the most dangerous air pollutants come from road traffic. Compared to an average family car of the same age, the largest lorries emit 25-40 times the levels of harmful particulate matter for each kilometre driven.

The Low Emission Zone will reduce the number of life years lost, respiratory hospital admissions and the need for medication for adults and children suffering from these diseases. The monetised health benefits within London resulting from the Low Emission Zone have been quantified at up to £680m between 2008 and 2015.

Transport for London (TfL) anticipates that only drivers who rarely use their vehicles in London will choose to pay the daily charge and that most owners and operators are more likely to take action to ensure that their vehicles meet the required standards. This is illustrated by the fact that currently only around seven per cent of lorries over 12 tonnes driving within Greater London are non-compliant with the emissions standards of the scheme compared to 25 per cent in May 2007 when the Mayor made his formal announcement to proceed with the Low Emission Zone.

Vehicles registered as new on or after 1 October 2001, when Euro III became mandatory for new vehicles, will already meet the emissions standards of the Zone. Owners of older vehicles have a number of options to ensure that their vehicles comply with the requirements of the Low Emission Zone including fitting approved particulate abatement equipment, purchasing a new or newer vehicle, re-organising their fleet or paying the daily charge. Devices that will bring vehicles up to the required emissions standards cost between £1,200 and £5,000 depending on the size of vehicle and type of device. The oldest and most polluting lorries, which fit a full filter, will see an improvement of around 90 per cent in their particulate matter emissions.

Air quality benefits from the Low Emission Zone are unlikely to be confined just to the capital. Around 40 per cent of the national lorry, bus and coach fleet operate in London during any given year with many of these vehicles carrying out the majority of their mileage outside London. This means that many of the vehicles that are being replaced or modified to meet the requirements of the Low Emission zone will contribute to reduced emissions outside London. In addition, because particulate matter emissions migrate from London to other parts of the country, reductions in London also lead to improved regional air quality.

TfL has undertaken a huge amount of work to inform operators that they will need to meet the Low Emission Zone standards. This has included a large-scale, multimedia information campaign which has been running since June 2007, and extensive direct mail activity targeting operators of non-compliant vehicles seen driving within the Zone. In addition, TfL is giving owners of non-compliant vehicles a 28 day warning period from the date they are first seen driving within the Zone during which time they will not be fined.

For more information
For more information on the Low Emission Zone, contact TfL on
0845 607 0009 or log on to TfL’s website at www.tfl.gov.uk/lezlondon