Categories
General

What is ULEZ?

Estimated read time 3 min read

The first low emission zone (LEZ) was introduced in the UK ten years ago, in 2008, in an attempt to clean up the capital’s poor air quality and place restrictions on dirtier, older vehicles that fell foul of modern regulations.

ultra-low emissions zone

These regulations are known as Euro standards and there are six of them. The first Euro standard was created in 1992; now, new cars must adhere to all six. While new cars are much cleaner, there are still a large number of older cars on the road that are emitting harmful pollutants. These can cause poor air quality across the country. The ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) will view drivers with remote; more contaminating cars pay more to drive into London in a offer to tidy our air. But with the presentation of the ULEZ, City Hall wishes to lessen the risky nitrogen oxide and dust matter levels in the air.

Tackling poor air quality

To try to tackle the problem, local authorities have been told by the government to create air quality plans. These are programmes that make sure that the air in the towns and cities they are responsible for is in line with EU law. Oxford City Council, for example, has announced that it plans to create the first ever zero emissions zone, with a ban on some vehicles entering the city centre by 2020 and a ban on all vehicles by 2035. The ULEZ will be piled out in three stages: the first of these will make the presence felt in April 8, 2019 in central London – where the blockage charge is presently in effect. The ULEZ is hinged on Euro standards that set top limitations for polluting nitrogen oxides and dust matter from car engines. Newer vehicles on the market require proving that they meet these levels.

Clean air zones and ultra-low emissions zones

As part of their air quality plans, many local authorities have launched clean-air zones (CAZs) and ultra-low emissions zones (ULEZs). These zones impose fines on older, dirtier vehicles that do not sufficiently meet the Euro standards. According to the Guardian, London’s ULEZ could see some vehicles being charged £24 a day to enter the city centre.

launched clean-air zones

Businesses in the motor trade will need to take the rules around ULEZs into account when operating in city centres, alongside other essentials such as motor trade insurance. There are many companies that can provide this type of insurance to businesses in the automobile industry, with specialists such as quotemetoday.co.uk/motor-trade-insurance providing motor trade insurance to businesses such as car dealerships, garages and tyre centres.

As mentioned earlier, it is older cars that are the problem when it comes to harmful pollutants. While the effect of ULEZs on older cars ultimately remains to be seen, it might be economical for drivers of older diesel vehicles – diesels only became clean with the introduction of the Euro 6 standard – to sell their vehicle if they are commuting into a ULEZ and buy something newer and cleaner to avoid paying the charges.