Around 150,000 vehicles called on to to meet tighter Low Emission Zone

Around 150,000 vehicles will have to meet tighter Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards from January 2012.

Around 75,000 heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches and around 72,000 larger vans and minibuses will have to meet emissions standards, or face a fine.

Road transport emissions are the largest source of dangerous PM air pollution (tiny airborne particles coming from vehicles) in the Capital, with larger vans responsible for 21 per cent of these emissions and 10 per cent of oxides of nitrogen.

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a year-long information campaign to remind vehicle operators that they have a year to prepare their vehicles for changes.

Vehicles will have to meet a Euro 3 standard for particulate matter, in order to drive within the LEZ free of charge and avoid fines.

Owners of larger vans and minibuses who do not meet the required emissions standards by 3 January 2012, and who drive within Greater London, will have to pay a £100 daily charge or risk a £500 penalty.

Owners of HGVs, buses and coaches would have to pay a £200 daily charge or risk a £1,000 penalty.

Research commissioned by the Mayor has suggested that poor air quality contributes to an equivalent of 4,267 premature deaths in London annually.

In many cases, owners whose vehicles do not meet the new emissions standards will not need to purchase a new vehicle, but can fit an approved filter at a much lower cost to reduce polluting exhaust emissions.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said: "The Low Emission Zone is already playing a major part in that by deterring the most polluting vehicles from driving within London."

"But whilst pollution remains a serious health issue, we need to take further action."

Further information:
TfL Low Emission Zone