RAC comment on the introduction of the London T-Charge

The T-Charge, at a rate of £10, has gone live in London today implemented by Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London. The charge is applicable to all Pre-Euro 4 vehicles on weekdays between 7am and 6pm entering the London Congestion Zone:

RAC roads policy spokesman Nick Lyes said: “There is little doubt that we need to clean up London’s air and the Mayor is right to look at the oldest vehicles because these are more likely to be the most polluting.”

“However, the T-Charge has had a quick implementation since it was first announced a year ago, and those drivers likely to be most impacted are those from lower income backgrounds as well as smaller, possibly struggling businesses who have had neither the time nor the resources to replace their vehicles quickly. Drivers may also see themselves as an easy target – while some car emissions are a contributory factor to poor air quality, the Mayor needs to look at other sectors such as industry, domestic boilers and even his own bus fleet where he should be accelerating transition to zero emission as soon as possible.

“Debate will also be raised over whether a flat fee will make much of a difference. A vehicle that enters the T-Charge zone for a short period and parks for the day is emitting far less than a vehicle that is driving for many hours.”