Request ID: FOI-1176-2223 Date published: 26 August 2022
You asked
Under the Freedom of information
I would like to find out further information can you provide the weekly/monthly pcn's figures issued for ULEZ that were sent out in 2019 - to August 2022 current and if possible any breakdown on these figures for pcn issued to people outside London.
Prior to the ULEZ expansion in 2021 what specific national advertising (not London advertising) was done to make people aware outside London of the scheme. Can you name them and dates ran.
Since the expansion what specific national advertising continues to be done (not London) and what is TFL Currently still doing to promote ULEZ to people outside London. Can you name the advertising and give dates for each form of advertising when they ran on each one ie if tv when and from.
If the TfL management of the ULEZ scheme is not to entrap people and make money with £160 fine pcn fines , would it not be fairer to drivers for the TfL to issue warning letters to them for first offence ,advising they have travelled into a ultra low emission zone especially if drivers come from outside London and are not aware of ulez, its signs, its times of operation or that of its expansion on 25 oct 2021 in the middle of lockdown and a fuel crisis at the time and accidently drove into areas previously free to drive in not knowing anything about ulez. Why issue a pcn fine to them, when surely a driver will next time be fully aware of the scheme and if caught again then fine them? What has changed from when the TfL did issue warning notices and what was the purpose if these notices, if it is still thousands of motorists each week now receiving a pcn ?
On average how many people wrote in 2019 to 2022 and appealed that they were not aware of the ULEZ signs or the schemes expansion when they received a pcn. What percentage is from outside London?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-1176-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 9th August 2022 asking for information about the ULEZ scheme.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“I would like to find out further information can you provide the weekly/monthly pcn's figures issued for ULEZ that were sent out in 2019 - to August 2022 current and if possible any breakdown on these figures for pcn issued to people outside London.
Prior to the ULEZ expansion in 2021 what specific national advertising (not London advertising) was done to make people aware outside London of the scheme. Can you name them and dates ran.
Since the expansion what specific national advertising continues to be done (not London) and what is TFL Currently still doing to promote ULEZ to people outside London. Can you name the advertising and give dates for each form of advertising when they ran on each one ie if tv when and from.
If the TfL management of the ULEZ scheme is not to entrap people and make money with £160 fine pcn fines , would it not be fairer to drivers for the TfL to issue warning letters to them for first offence ,advising they have travelled into a ultra low emission zone especially if drivers come from outside London and are not aware of ulez, its signs, its times of operation or that of its expansion on 25 oct 2021 in the middle of lockdown and a fuel crisis at the time and accidently drove into areas previously free to drive in not knowing anything about ulez. Why issue a pcn fine to them, when surely a driver will next time be fully aware of the scheme and if caught again then fine them? What has changed from when the TfL did issue warning notices and what was the purpose if these notices, if it is still thousands of motorists each week now receiving a pcn ?
On average how many people wrote in 2019 to 2022 and appealed that they were not aware of the ULEZ signs or the schemes expansion when they received a pcn. What percentage is from outside London?”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require. Your requests for recorded information are addressed below:
Question: I would like to find out further information can you provide the weekly/monthly pcn's figures issued for ULEZ that were sent out in 2019 - to August 2022 current and if possible any breakdown on these figures for pcn issued to people outside London.
Answer: The requested data is shown in the table below. Note that the ULEZ was launched on 8 April 2019 to cover the same area of central London as the Congestion Charging zone. As the scheme was new, between 8 April and 10 May 2019 we issued warning notices rather the PCNs.
The scheme was suspended from 23 March to 17 May 2020 in response to COVID19 and there was a subsequent short warning notice period when it was brought back into effect. Hence no PCNs were issued in April and May 2020.
On 25 October 2021 the ULEZ was expanded to cover the area up to but not including the North and South circular roads. As the expansion was new between 25 October 2021 and 22 November 2021 we issued warning notices rather than PCNs.
Contravention Year/Month
Postcode In London Borough
Postcode Not In London Borough
Grand Total
2019
May
18,792
22,923
41,715
June
36,877
38,858
75,735
July
32,699
37,274
69,973
August
30,131
38,153
68,284
September
28,550
34,656
63,206
October
25,198
30,126
55,324
November
23,728
30,135
53,863
December
24,643
33,983
58,626
2020
January
20,140
24,596
44,736
February
18,547
23,635
42,182
March
12,351
14,511
26,862
April
0
0
0
May
0
0
0
June
12,552
15,800
28,352
July
16,858
19,275
36,133
August
17,434
22,095
39,529
September
15,720
19,287
35,007
October
14,012
16,493
30,505
November
11,596
12,925
24,521
December
12,488
14,747
27,235
2021
January
8,804
8,801
17,605
February
8,110
9,002
17,112
March
9,378
10,378
19,756
April
9,965
12,216
22,181
May
11,125
14,819
25,944
June
11,334
14,544
25,878
July
11,531
16,175
27,706
August
10,958
16,978
27,936
September
10,497
14,600
25,097
October
8,709
11,463
20,172
November
13,696
23,077
36,773
December
125,888
122,562
248,450
2022
January
98,229
87,365
185,594
February
86,521
84,556
171,077
March
89,586
86,819
176,405
April
82,226
84,226
166,452
May
84,173
85,526
169,699
June
78,702
85,736
164,438
July
76,743
82,368
159,111
August
23,241
23,957
47,198
Grand Total
1,231,732
1,344,640
2,576,372
Question: Prior to the ULEZ expansion in 2021 what specific national advertising (not London advertising) was done to make people aware outside London of the scheme. Can you name them and dates ran.
And;
Question: Since the expansion what specific national advertising continues to be done (not London) and what is TFL Currently still doing to promote ULEZ to people outside London. Can you name the advertising and give dates for each form of advertising when they ran on each one ie if tv when and from.
Answer: TfL ran a large-scale multi-channel information campaign targeting both private and commercial vehicle owners in and outside of London with the aim of raising awareness about the expansion of the zone. The campaign launched on 5October 2020 giving drivers over a year to prepare for the expansion on 25October 2021. Advertising continued to run post the zone expanding and did so until March 2022. The messaging explained where and how the expanded ULEZ operates, the hours of operation, which vehicles are affected and the required emissions standards, where to check a vehicle, and the cost of the daily charge and how to pay should their vehicle not meet the required emissions standards. There is also detailed information on the TfL website including a downloadable leaflet and maps.
The following advertising channels were used to raise awareness and provide detailed information, reaching drivers in London and surrounding areas:
Radio - Our radio adverts ran on the following stations: Absolute Radio, Capital London, Gold London, Heart London, Jazz FM, Kiss (London and network), LBC, Magic and Radio X London, Sunrise and Smooth London. The airtime has an overspill of 25-30 miles radius outside of London subject to the terrain.
Television and video on demand –From 4 to 24 October 2021an advert explaining where the expanded zone would operate, the launch date and how to check your vehicle appeared on ITV, Channel 4, London Live and video on demand channels. Whilst the airtime was predominately aimed at London, ITV and Channel 4 airtime has an overspill of up to 50 miles outside of London subject to the terrain.
Specialist presstitles - adverts appeared in the following national titles: What Van? Business Car, Fleet World, Van Fleet World, Van User, Electrical Contracting News, Electrical Time Magazine, Heating and Plumbing Monthly, Motorcycle News, What Car? And Route One.
Social mediaand online video – social media adverts ran on Facebook and Instagram and online video targeted drivers via third party websites providing visual clarity on the area where the ULEZ expands up to.
Google search adverts - directed those interested to the TfL website for further information and to check their vehicle using the online vehicle compliance checker.
Digital display adverts – including via Waze, a wayfinding navigation app, providing information to drivers of the new expanded boundary and where it operates.
Engagement with stakeholders - Meetings were held with national bodies including the RAC, AA, British Vehicle Rental and Licensing Association, British Retail Confederation, National Market Traders Federation, the Royal College of Nurses, the TUC, and most of these included pieces on the ULEZ expansion in their national and/or regional publications.
Press– A number of press releases were issued during the course of the campaign and they achieved widespread coverage. A number of articles appeared in national broadsheets such as the Financial Times, The Times, Guardian and Independent. There were a series of media events that resulted in the BBC and ITV interviewing the Mayor of London about the ULEZ.
Signage – early warning signage was installed at entrances to the expanded zone between July and September 2021, explaining the ULEZ was coming on 25th October 2021. In addition, around 130 electronic variable message signs, on main roads throughout London were used to raise awareness of the start date of the scheme. These appeared two weeks ahead of the zone expanding and remained in place two weeks after the expansion. This was followed by permanent signage at every entry point along the boundary and along key arterial approaches.
Question: On average how many people wrote in 2019 to 2022 and appealed that they were not aware of the ULEZ signs or the schemes expansion when they received a pcn. What percentage is from outside London?
Answer: When a PCN is issued a motorist has a right to challenge the penalty by making a representation to us. If the representation is accepted the penalty is cancelled. If we reject the representation the motorist has a further right of appeal to an Independent Adjudicator at London Tribunals. If the appeal is refused the penalty remains open, if it is allowed the penalty is cancelled.
Of the PCNs issued in this period we received 28,242 representations stating the penalty was incurred as the individual was unaware of the scheme or how it operates. We do not record specifically how many said they didn’t see a sign or whether it was the expanded zone or original zone which they were unaware of. 8,357 were for PCNs issued to London postcodes and 19,885 were for PCNs issued to postcodes outside of London.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
