Our Ref:         FOI-2435-1920

Thank you for your request received on 12 November 2019 asking for information about the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
 
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.

Since its introduction in April this year the Ultra Low Emission Zone has been hugely successful with 13,500 fewer older, polluting vehicles entering the zone each day. There has also been a big fall in roadside air pollution with harmful nitrogen dioxide reduced by a third within the scheme’s boundaries. A high proportion of vehicles in the zone are meeting the tough emission standards with 77 per cent being compliant.

Roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution has reduced by 36 per cent in the zone. This is measured from February 2017 to September 2019, to reflect when the Mayor publicly confirmed the Toxicity Charge (T-Charge) – the predecessor to the ULEZ - and people started to prepare for the schemes. Analysis by City Hall estimates that the reduction in NO2 pollution solely attributable to the ULEZ is 29 per cent.

The high level of compliance has been achieved via an extensive public information campaign and ensuring the charge is properly enforced. The introduction of the ULEZ is not about making money, but about improving the health and wellbeing of thousands of Londoners. Any money received from the ULEZ is reinvested into walking, cycling and public transport.

The capital cost of delivering the central London ULEZ is £51.3m. It is estimated that the central London ULEZ in the first year will generate £213m, including enforcement income. This is before any operating costs and other expenses. In its first year ULEZ income will be £213m and operating costs will be £59m, producing a surplus of £154m. It is expected that the income generated will reduce as the policy has the desired effect of taking the most harmful and polluting vehicles off the road.

We are spending much more on improving air quality – around £800m – than we expect to receive through net income from the ULEZ.

The ULEZ was introduced on 8 April 2019 and means vehicles have to meet certain emissions standards to drive within the zone without payment of a charge. As the scheme was new, between 8 April and 11 May we issued warning notices rather than penalty charge notices (PCNs).
 
You asked:
 
1.    How many drivers paid the ULEZ charge since launch? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
We do not record how many drivers have paid the charge. The table below shows the total number of charge payments along with the number of different vehicles for which the charge has been paid.
 
Month Unique  vehicles Charges
Apr-19 130,151 346,043
May-19 153,192 496,600
Jun-19 151,400 469,694
Jul-19 148,112 464,373
Aug-19 140,906 411,156
Sep-19 142,556 420,638
Oct-19 138,990 418,733
Nov-19 132,879 374,434
 
2.    How much money has been made from the ULEZ charge since launch? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period
 
The table below shows income from ULEZ charges:
 
Month Value of charges
Apr-19 £5,051,787.50
May-19 £7,245,600.00
Jun-19 £6,763,237.50
Jul-19 £6,723,762.50
Aug-19 £5,874,275.00
Sep-19 £5,967,250.00
Oct-19 £5,945,887.50
Nov-19 £5,304,475.00
Total £48,876,275.00
 
3.    How many drivers have failed to pay the ULEZ charge and as a result have received a fine (PCN) since launch? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
The table below details the number of different vehicles which have been issued with a PCN from 11 May to 30 November 2019:
 
Month Unique vehicles
May-19 45,199
Jun-19 61,592
Jul-19 57,311
Aug-19 57,470
Sep-19 52,137
Oct-19 46,812
Nov-19 40,768
 
4.    How many drivers have failed to pay the ULEZ charge and have paid a fine (PCN) – since launch? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period
 
The table below shows the number of different vehicles for which a PCN has been issued and fully paid:
 
Month Unique vehicles
May-19 25,454
Jun-19 39,555
Jul-19 35,073
Aug-19 33,812
Sep-19 30,574
Oct-19 24,072
Nov-19 12,880
 
5.    How many drivers have incurred a ULEZ fine or charge and never paid it - since launch? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period
 
The table below details the number of vehicles for which a PCN is outstanding:
 
Month Unique vehicles
May-19 11,561
Jun-19 18,190
Jul-19 19,434
Aug-19 20,803
Sep-19 19,235
Oct-19 21,004
Nov-19 27,591
 
6.   How many drivers have received more than one PCN relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
60,443. 

Please note that for questions 6-15 we are unable to break this figure down by month as this skews the overall calculation. We estimate that providing a breakdown by month would
exceed the ‘appropriate limit’ of £450 set by the Freedom of Information (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004.

7.    How many drivers have received more than two PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
23,580.
 
8.    How many drivers have received more than three PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
13,636.
 
9.    How many drivers have received more than four PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
8945.
 
10. How many drivers have received more than five PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
6567.
 
11. How many drivers have received more than six PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
5153.
 
12. How many drivers have received more than seven PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
4119.
 
13. How many drivers have received more than eight PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
3435.
 
14. How many drivers have received more than nine PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
2938.
 
15. How many drivers have received more than ten PCNs relating to ULEZ since it launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
2535.

16. What is the highest number of PCNs received by one driver - since launch and what is the total cost in PCNs incurred? And any information on vehicle type, age, gender, profession and area they are from (please provide the outward code of the postcode i.e. postcode area and postcode district. e.g. N1, SW4, CF24)
 
The highest number of penalties issued to one vehicle is 165. The postcode to which these were sent is SE20. A penalty is payable at £160, reduced to £80 for prompt payment. The value of these penalties at the reduced amount is £13,200.
 
17. How much has been made (£) from PCNs since ULEZ launched? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
The table below shows money received from PCN payments:
 
Month Total PCNs Issued  Value of PCNs Paid
May-19 29,595 £2,799,170.50
Jun-19 48,053 £4,473,330.50
Jul-19 42,036 £3,925,070.00
Aug-19 40,177 £3,613,478.00
Sep-19 36,074 £3,146,952.50
Oct-19 28,152 £2,359,797.50
Nov-19 14,832 £1,233,060.00
Grand Total 238,919 £21,550,859.00
 
18. How much has been made (£) as a result of late ULEZ payments (broken down by calendar month since ULEZ launched). Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
The ULEZ charge can be paid in advance or up to the end of the next working day. The amount payable for the charge remains the same irrespective of whether it is paid in advance, on the day of travel or after the day of travel.
 
The tables below details the number of ULEZ charges purchased after the day of travel and the income received from those charges:
 
 Valid Charge Count
Month ULEZ High Previous ULEZ Low Previous Grand Total
Apr-19 236 27,070 27,306
May-19 325 33,231 33,556
Jun-19 311 34,154 34,465
Jul-19 355 32,413 32,768
Aug-19 206 31,929 32,135
Sep-19 204 29,844 30,048
Oct-19 184 29,582 29,766
Nov-19 165 28,388 28,553
Grand Total 1,986 246,611 248,597
   
 Value of Valid Charges
Month ULEZ High Previous ULEZ Low Previous Grand Total
Apr-19 £23,600.00 £338,375.00 £361,975.00
May-19 £32,500.00 £415,387.50 £447,887.50
Jun-19 £31,100.00 £426,925.00 £458,025.00
Jul-19 £35,500.00 £405,162.50 £440,662.50
Aug-19 £20,600.00 £399,112.50 £419,712.50
Sep-19 £20,400.00 £373,050.00 £393,450.00
Oct-19 £18,400.00 £369,775.00 £388,175.00
Nov-19 £16,500.00 £354,850.00 £371,350.00
Grand Total £198,600.00 £3,082,637.50 £3,281,237.50
 
19. How many drivers have outstanding penalty notices (£) as a result of missing ULEZ payments, but are yet to pay them and what is the total monetary value of these outstanding penalty notices? - (broken down by calendar month since launch)
 
The table below details the number of different vehicles with penalties outstanding and the value of those penalties:
 
Month Count of Unique VRM Amount Outstanding
May-19 11,561 £2,427,338.04
Jun-19 18,190 £5,714,827.53
Jul-19 19,434 £5,951,866.50
Aug-19 20,803 £5,897,679.00
Sep-19 19,235 £5,296,922.00
Oct-19 21,004 £3,551,545.00
Nov-19 27,591 £2,324,497.50
Grand Total - £31,164,675.57
 
20. Which UK postcodes (please provide the outward code of the postcode i.e postcode area and postcode district. e.g. SW2) have received the most PCNs - since launch.
 
See Q22.
 
21. What is the breakdown of postcodes (please provide the outward code of the postcode i.e. postcode area and postcode district. e.g. SW2) of drivers paying the ULEZ charge since launch? Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
We do not record this information.
 
22. What is the breakdown of postcodes (please provide the outward code of the postcode i.e. postcode area and postcode district. e.g. SW2) of drivers who have incurred PCNs since launch? And the total cost incurred by postcode. Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
The table below details the top 10 post codes with the most PCNs issued and the income received from those PCNs:
 
Count of PCNs by Postcode 
Postcode May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Total
SL1 135 278 292 302 241 177 182 1,607
B26 117 204 200 183 170 154 109 1,137
DL1 51 113 115 166 174 145 100 864
SN5 50 119 94 56 78 60 18 475
SK16 26 51 89 82 77 33 27 385
EC1V 15 80 85 52 27 45 21 325
SE3  30 46 44 60 46 41 267
E7 6 54 81 33 29 27 23 253
PE1 37 70 66 24 20 9 14 240
N15 7 52 53 36 33 27 22 230
        
PCN Cost Incurred by Postcode 
Postcode May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Total
SL1 £11,280.00 £23,616.00 £25,792.00 £25,760.00 £20,720.00 £16,640.00 £14,560.00 £138,368.00
B26 £9,680.00 £16,480.00 £16,240.00 £18,328.00 £13,920.00 £12,320.00 £8,720.00 £95,688.00
DL1 £4,240.00 £9,200.00 £9,520.00 £13,440.00 £14,480.00 £11,760.00 £8,000.00 £70,640.00
SN5 £5,064.00 £9,520.00 £7,520.00 £4,640.00 £6,400.00 £4,800.00 £1,440.00 £39,384.00
SK16 £3,940.00 £5,760.00 £7,960.00 £8,240.00 £7,420.00 £3,900.00 £2,580.00 £39,800.00
EC1V £7,164.00 £55,556.00 £46,140.00 £25,824.00 £17,820.00 £20,000.00 £3,360.00 £175,864.00
SE3  £7,440.00 £11,408.00 £10,744.00 £14,080.00 £7,040.00 £3,280.00 £53,992.00
E7 £480.00 £11,312.00 £19,920.00 £7,760.00 £5,200.00 £3,840.00 £1,840.00 £50,352.00
PE1 £4,368.00 £7,488.00 £10,752.00 £2,752.00 £2,160.00 £1,040.00 £1,120.00 £29,680.00
N15 £1,736.00 £12,896.00 £13,144.00 £8,792.00 £7,920.00 £4,240.00 £1,760.00 £50,488.00
 
23. What is the most popular time of day, on average, are PCNs most likely to be issued looking at the historical data for when cars passed through the ULEZ system – what time of day have the most PCNs been issued - since launch? Please lay out as a mean average time using a 24-hour clock, rounded to the nearest minute e.g. 18:32
 
We do not hold this information.
 
24. What day of the week, as a mean average, are PCNs most likely to be issued. Please layout as the day of the week where the most PCNs are issued on average.
 
Sunday.
 
25. On what date were the most PCNs issued since ULEZ launched? Please lay out as day, calendar month, year.
 
Sunday 4 August 2019.
 
26. What impact has the ULEZ charge had on reducing congestion? Please answer by laying out the number of drivers entering the ULEZ zone per calendar month since ULEZ launched. Please categorise these numbers by calendar month e.g. May, June, July etc. until the end of the period.
 
We do not hold this information. However the Mayor’s office has published a report on the impact of the ULEZ during its first six months of operation. The report is available on their website at:
 
https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/central-london-ulez-six-month-report
 
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
 
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
[email protected]