There is dissatisfaction among some Londoners regarding the expansion (Picture: Getty)The Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in London has been extended as of today (August 29) to cover all 32 boroughs within the capital.
Owners of non-compliant vehicles will now be required to pay a daily fee of £12.50 in order to drive anywhere in London or else risk incurring a substantial fine.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the ULEZ expansion.
While many individuals are pleased with the anticipated improvement in air quality within the city, certain drivers are discontent with the newly implemented charges and have even participated in anti-ULEZ demonstrations, with a few individuals going so far as to vandalize ULEZ cameras.
As the zone grows larger, it is natural to wonder whether the M25 motorway is encompassed within the ULEZ, given that segments of it are located in London.
According to the official website of Transport for London (TfL), the M25 is not subject to the ULEZ, despite portions of the London orbital road falling within the city.
Most of the areas included in the ULEZ fall within the boundaries of the motorway.
However, there are exceptions to this, such as North Ockendon, which lies within the London Borough of Havering and is therefore considered part of the ULEZ, even though it is situated outside the M25.
Likewise, Heathrow Airport is situated within the London Borough of Hillingdon and is thus subject to the ULEZ.
Click to enlarge (Picture: Getty)Which vehicles are exempt from the ULEZ?
Some types of non-compliant vehicles are exempt from the daily charge of £12.50.
These include:
Private hire vehicles that are wheelchair accessible (given a grace period until October 24, 2027)
Vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1973
Specialist agricultural vehicles
Military vehicles
Non-road vehicles with permission to operate on public highways (e.g. excavators)
Certain types of mobile cranes
Taxis licensed in London
Minibuses used for community transport
Why was the ULEZ expanded?
The objective of the ULEZ is to reduce pollution and enhance air quality in London.
According to TfL, 94% of vehicles within the original ULEZ zone now meet the stringent emission standards on a daily basis.
This represents a significant increase from the 39% compliance rate in 2017 when the scheme was initially implemented.
Levels of harmful nitrogen oxide pollution have decreased by nearly half in central London since 2017, although pollution is not exclusively a central London issue.
More air pollution-related deaths occur in the outer boroughs of London, which is why the ULEZ expansion is necessary to ensure cleaner air for the five million residents of these areas to breathe.
MORE: Drivers penalized for inadvertently using fraudulent websites to pay ULEZ charges
MORE: With the ULEZ expansion in effect, is Gatwick Airport now included in the charging zone?
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