RAC Report on Motoring 2016

RAC call to action: Environment: see page 91

RAC Report on Motoring 2016

4.0 Air quality and the environment

At the end of 2015, the Government announced plans 22 to improve air quality in those English cities unable to meet EU air quality minimum standards by introducing a number of Clean Air Zones. This policy is likely to see the most polluting commercial vehicles charged for entering certain parts of Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton by 2020 – but the proposed approach is to target the greatest contributors to nitrogen dioxide emissions such as buses, taxis and commercial vehicles so owners of private cars may not be affected. Most motorists (55%) support such proposals – only 12% say they are against them – with almost half (42%) saying they were already aware of the Government’s plans for Clean Air Zones.

The environmental proposal which receives the least support in the Report is for the introduction of charges for ‘all diesel vehicles’ entering areas with the poorest air quality: only 42% of drivers think this is a good idea against 30% who do not. This is worth noting given the schemes introduced over recent years by certain local authorities, such as Islington in north London, which imposes surcharges for parking permits for all private diesel cars, regardless of how much they are used or whether they meet the most recent – and therefore most stringent – emissions standards 23 .

55 % of drivers support the

27 % of drivers are unaware of plans for Clean Air Zones

Government’s proposal to establish Clean Air Zones where pollutant levels exceed safe standards

22. www.gov.uk/government/news/improving-air-quality-in-cities 23. https://beta.islington.gov.uk/parking/parking-permits/diesel-surcharges

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