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Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to introduce a daily charge for drivers in London of up to £2 in the service of helping city dwellers breathe a little more easily. But what does this proposed tax mean for a city that already has a raft of anti-car measures in place? Here’s what we know about the plan so far:
Why this, why now?
Well, you probably haven’t missed the fact that we’re right in the middle of a global climate crisis, and car use doesn’t help. ‘We have too often seen measures to tackle air pollution and the climate emergency delayed around the world because it’s viewed as being too hard or politically inconvenient, but I’m not willing to put off action we have the ability to implement here in London,’ Sadiq Khan has said. And that starts by taxing London drivers and encouraging them to take public transport, walk, cycle or drive electric cars instead.
Is this separate from the Congestion Charge?
The idea is that this new daily charge will replace existing schemes like the Congestion Charge and the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), as a simpler and fairer alternative.
Who will be affected?
Almost all drivers in London: only the cleanest vehicles, and electric cars, are exempt. But there’s been criticism that this could end up hitting less wealthy drivers hardest, as they’re less likely to be able to afford pricy electric vehicles.
When will it come into play?
The charge was outlined in a recent report. It’ll be put to public consultation, ahead of planned introduction in May 2024.
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