Vehicles affected
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) affects older, diesel-engined lorries, buses, coaches, large vans (exceeding 1.205 tonnes unladen weight) and minibuses (over eight seats plus the driver's seat and below 5 tonnes).
It also affects other specialist vehicles that are derived from lorries and vans, including motorised horse boxes, breakdown and recovery vehicles, refuse collection vehicles, snow ploughs, gritters, road sweepers, concrete mixers, tippers, removals lorries, fire engines,
extended-cab dual purpose pick-ups and some light utility vehicles.
Motor caravans, ambulances and large hearses (over 2.5 tonnes) are also included.
The LEZ applies to all vehicles, irrespective of whether they are used for commercial or private use.
Cars, motorcycles and small vans (under 1.205 tonnes unladen weight) are not included in the LEZ.
The low emission zone – how will it affect you?
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News forums have been inundated with complaints from disgruntled drivers. “By not giving enough notice to convert or replace vehicles, the zone has closed a company which employed five people. Thanks,” said Harry Shaw on the BBC news forum. Or there's this, from L Staunton: “I run a scout group with a 10-year-old minibus. It travels no more than 1,000 miles a year, mostly outside the London area. We will have to replace the bus just to park it at our base in London. How can it be environmentally friendly to scrap a serviceable vehicle to buy a new bus that will be unused most of the time?”
They're talking about Greater London's new low emission zone (LEZ) low emission zone which came into force on 4 February this year and it's safe to say the new green signs have caused more controversy than a fur coat at a vegetarian convention.
The Automobile Association (AA) has said it's been inundated with calls from confused drivers who didn't understand what the signs meant and who was affected. So what exactly is the LEZ, and what does it mean for the country's motorists? What's it all about?
Transport for London (TFL) Transport for London believes the LEZ will give “cleaner air for Greater London”. Basically, the scheme will deter pollution causing diesel-engined lorries, buses, coaches, minibuses and large vans from entering the capital by charging them £200 for the privilege.
Will I be affected? Not at the moment, unless you're the proud owner of a diesel-engined lorry that weighs more than 12 tonnes. But be warned – the scheme expands to include more and more vehicles until October 2010 when it will cover everything from large vans and minibuses, to diesel-powered motor homes and horse boxes. Find out if your vehicle complies by clicking here, but if it doesn't, take action now as modifying vehicles can take some time. Breathe a sigh of relief if you own a car, motorbike or small van under 1.205 tonnes in weight – you won't have to pay.
How is it enforced? Big brother is watching you – well, the TFL is, anyway. Automatic number plate reading cameras are springing up like tall, sinister daisies all over Greater London and anyone entering or leaving will be checked to see whether their vehicle complies. If your vehicle is unregistered and does not meet the emission standards, you'll be fined £1,000, reduced to £500 if you pay within two weeks.
Will it work?The jury's still out on that one. The mayor believes the LEZ will reduce emissions overall by 16% by 2012. But whether the current scheme is right for the job remains to be seen. "Rather than set up such a bureaucratic and complex scheme it would be more effective to target the minority of gross polluting vehicles," says AA spokesman Edmund King.
Eyebrows have also been raised that, while the scheme affects buses, it doesn't apply to the TFL's own fleet, the majority of which would fail its own compliance test.
Compliance testing.
Ok amenity.
some call for a level playing field, some think its a level playing field,
some now know its an uphill struggle if you have to work, or have a business, inside basicaly, the M25 ring road.
The Alpha 12 has BIG warning signs as you approach the low emission zone (LEZ)
once past the M25 more signs as you enter the LEZ.
Yesterday we purchased an elderly Land Rover Discovery 4X4 turbo diesel.
old but good, drove fine on the way home.
once indoors......panic time......did it have a zero rating on LEZ....
as it turns out, the LEZ website clears it "for now"
its the "currently zero rated" that should worry 1,000`s of other diesel 4X4 drivers out there.
So, your quote,
how do they get away with it...........
YES, just how do they get away with it amenity.
I have to go to central London to Hospital, its sheer amount of buses keep central london above ground moving, but at what cost to peoples health...
How do they get away with it amenity, when most of our local councils have had to purchase new fleets of coaches to bypass the LEZ daily surcharges...
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