London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked Transport for London (TfL) to look into using ULEZ cameras to charge car users in a 'pay-as-you-drive' scheme in the capital after facing a backlash over the expansion to Outer London. He feels that it could mean millions more into the orbit of paying £12.50 a day for using polluting from August.
Speaking at the London Assembly, he said: “ANPR cameras could form part of the potential operation of such a scheme, but no proposals have been developed.” As part of the ULEZ expansion, TfL is planning to erect around 2,750 additional cameras - with 300 already installed across some boroughs.
Mayor Khan has previously revealed he wants to impose a network of 'Singapore-style' toll roads throughout London as part of efforts to improve the capital's air quality. He said the 'nearest comparator' for his road user charging plans was Singapore, which has 'electronic road pricing' which uses sensors attached to gantries over main roads to capture number plates.
These sensors track at what time drivers are using certain roads and charges them a toll based on these factors, for example rush-hour traffic on a busy road being more expensive. Cameras introduced as part of the ULEZ expansion could be used to monitor the distances drivers travel, where they are travelling and the level of emissions their vehicles emit - with fears drivers may be charged by the mile.
It comes as City Hall's Transport Committee last month launched a consultation into the 'potential introduction of variable or distanced-based smarter road user charging'. During a City Hall Transport Committee meeting, TfL’s director of strategy Christina Calderato said it was keen to plough ahead with the plan at the 'earliest possible stage'.
A spokesperson for Mr Khan said the road user charging scheme is just one of multiple options being assessed and would look at the availability of public transport in the given area, along with employment and income. A statement added: 'Any formal proposals which could be developed in the future would be subject to consultation with information provided on detailed scheme proposals and their likely impacts.'
It comes as furious drivers earlier slammed Mr. Khan after he branded some ULEZ opponents 'far-Right' and 'Covid deniers'. During the session, the Mayor said: “Some of you have got good reasons to oppose Ulez, but you are in coalition with Covid deniers... you may not like it... you are in coalition with the far-Right. And you are in coalition with vaccine deniers as well.”
