Data from a new report on the impact of Ulez has showed that compliance is now at 95% of vehicles in London, following the introduction of the extended zone.
This is up from 85% compliance in May 2022, and has been bolstered by 37,200 using the scrappage scheme to help towards more efficient vehicles.
It also means that the compliance rate of cars in outer London has nearly matched that of inner London which is at 96.9%.
The move to introduce Ulez was, however, seen as controversial due to concerns around extra costs for motorists and people with small vehicles.
The Uxbridge byelection saw a Ulez backlash touted as the reason for the Labour loss in the constituency.
At the time Labour leader and deputy leaders Kier Starmer and Angela Rayner said Sadiq Khan should reconsider his approach to the scheme as a result of the vote.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’ve always said the decision to expand Ulez was very difficult, but a month on from the expansion we can already see that it is working.”
“London is now home to the world’s largest clean air zone and this new data shows 95% of vehicles seen driving in London on an average day now comply with our air quality standards”.
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#BreatheforElla; #BreatheforLondon. Our aim as a family has been that no one should suffer like Ella did. Poisoned alive & died slowly over 28 painful months. Air pollution still kills 7M worldwide prematurely annually. We want Govts everywhere to put lives before fossil fuels 🩸 pic.twitter.com/0xM3qEaaIK
— BreatheForElla (@RosamundAdoo_KD) October 13, 2023
He encouraged Londoners to take advantage of the scrappage scheme and added that “the data is testament to the huge progress we’ve made in tackling air pollution since I was first elected in 2016. Londoners are experiencing a greener, cleaner, and healthier city.”
Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah CBE, who has campaigned on air pollution since the death of her daughter Ella Kissi Debrah from asthma said: “The coroners report following Ella’s premature death stated that unless action is taken to clean up air, more people will continue to die from air pollution.”
“The first steps of the expansion of the Ulez are positive, but there is so much more to do to reduce air pollution and improve air quality in line with the World Health Organisation guidelines, not just in London but for the rest of the UK too”.
Co-director of climate charity Possible Hirra Khan Adeogun said that “taking action to cut traffic and tackle air pollution has brought huge benefits to millions more Londoners”.
“Let’s keep taking the dirtiest cars off the roads, and helping more people get around in greener ways.”
