Emissions Cameras

26th July 2007

First, it erected speed cameras, and then kit to monitor the congestion charge. And now, devices similar to these are being used to patrol London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) – designed to discourage the use of the most polluting vehicles in the capital.

Sixty more Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are being erected within the M25 area where the zone will operate, according to Transport for London.

These will scan the registrations of traffic passing through the major roads expected to be used by diesel-powered 12-tonne lorries – which are the first vehicles to be targeted by the scheme, which is due to come into effect in Feb­ruary.

When smaller vehicles are added next July, more cameras are likely to be installed, to cover routes through Greater London. If it proves successful, the LEZ project could be introduced across the UK’s other major cities.

A TfL spokeswoman said: “London suffers the worst air pollution in the country, and some of the poorest in Europe. Research indicates there are around 1,000 early deaths and another 1,000 hospital admissions in the capital each year due to poor air quality – a large component of which is from vehicle emissions.”