15.05.2007

London LEZ introduced next year

Ken Livingstone, mayor of London says his London Low Emission Zone will come into force next year. From 4 February 2008, trucks, including specialist vehicles over 12 tonnes will need to meet Euro 3 based emission standards.

The daily penalty for vehicles that don’t meet the standards and get spotted in the LEZ by, amongst other things, automatic number plate recognition cameras, will be £200. Failure to pay means a £1,000 fine.

Trucks, motorhomes and other specialist vehicles over 3.5 tonnes will need to comply from 7 July next year and on October 2010 vans over 1.2 tonnes will be affected.
In 2012 the basis of the emissions standard will shift to Euro 4.

The Road Haulage Association says the LEZ “represents yet another blow to the very industry on which the UK's capital is totally reliant.” It will penalise old trucks over 12 tonnes GVW that don’t meet Euro 3 emissions standards.

“The LEZ will affect nearly 20,000 trucks. But ours is the industry which ensures that London is fed, watered and clothed,” said Roger King, RHA chief executive. Without heavy trucks London would, quite literally, grind to a halt, he says. “Despite this, we are still not considered ‘essential users’ and have to pay a congestion charge of £8.00 a day.”