Request ID: FOI-2737-2324 Date published: 22 December 2023
You asked
How many PCNS have been issued to people who live outside of the ulez zone since 29th August?
What communications of the Ulez expansion have been received by residents in Loughborough?
What research has been carried out to ensure signage is effective on the ulez route?
What behaviour change methodology has been used in the implementation of the ulez expansion?
How many PCNS have been retracted when they have been represented and what were the grounds for this?
Why are the DVLA only writing to car owners in the ULez zone when the scheme applies to anyone driving into London? And the fines and expectation are the same as if you weren't written too?
We answered
Our ref: FOI-2737-2324/GH Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 31 October 2023 asking for information about ULEZ. Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. How many PCNS have been issued to people who live outside of the ulez zone since 29th August? The ULEZ was expanded on 29 August 2023 to cover the whole of the Greater London Authority area. Following the launch of the expansion, between 29 August and 25 September 2023, warning notices were issued to owners of non-compliant vehicles who had not paid the ULEZ charge after driving in the zone. Warning notices were issued to ensure the correct action is taken in the future and to allow for any genuine mistakes that may have occurred. Since 26 September 2023, Penalty Charge Notices have been issued for contraventions. PCNs are issued to the registered keeper of a vehicle as held by the DVLA. The address to which a penalty is issued does not necessarily mean the driver resides at that address. For example, penalties will be issued to hire and lease companies based outside of the ULEZ when the driver may reside inside. Since 26 September and up until 6 November there have been a total of 217,244 PCNs issued, 118,539 of which have been issued to registered keepers of vehicles residing outside of Greater London. A similar proportion of PCNs was issued to registered keepers outside of London for the same time period prior to the ULEZ expanding London-wide. What communications of the Ulez expansion have been received by residents in Loughborough? Ahead of the expansion of the ULEZ across all London boroughs, Transport for London ran a large scale multi-channel information campaign targeting Londoners and Home Counties drivers to raise awareness and to explain who is affected, where the expanded zone will operate and how the scheme operates including hours of operation, daily charge and how to pay. The campaign launched in January 2023 to encourage drivers to check their vehicles to help them prepare ahead of when the scheme expanded on 29 August 2023. Advertising has continued to run post the zone expanding in August, and will continue to do so until March 2024. Advertising did not target Loughborough specifically, rather efforts were focussed on using channels that would cost effectively reach as many drivers as possible. Some of the channels we used reached a wider population outside London including the Home Counties and nationally, and where relevant information on these channels has been included below.
Some of the media channels used, such as TV and radio, reached a wider audience outside London and the Home Counties - for TV airtime this extended up to 50 miles outside London subject to terrain and for radio up to 25-30 miles outside London subject to the terrain (please refer to the maps below).
We ran advertising in national channels, including national press titles, such as The Sun and Daily Mail) and specialist press titles such as What Van and What Car?, Horse & Hound, Camping & Caravan, Business Car, Fleetworld/Van Fleet World, Motor Cycle News, and Bus & Coach Buyer.
Advertising also ran across TV (ITV and Channel 4), video on demand (ITVX, All4, Sky), radio, local and pan-London press, as part of a radio and local newspaper content partnership, digital display, messaging on Waze (a wayfinding app), social media, roadside posters, and bus lower rears.
Posters and petrol pump nozzle advertising appeared at service stations on the approach to London and we carried out face-to-face leafleting at service stations on the approach to London post the zone expanding.
In addition to advertising, emails were sent to customers registered to TfL’s database, leaflets were distributed in the outer London expansion area as well as face-to-face in high footfall areas such as shopping centres. Personalised letters were also sent to a number of residents in outer London boroughs. We also provided downloadable leaflets and maps on the TfL website. Following the expansion of the ULEZ wayfinding apps such as Google and Apple provide information to their users to advise if a route is taking them into the ULEZ. Numerous press releases were issued following the Mayor’s announcement in November 2022 that the ULEZ would be expanding in August 2023 and they achieved widespread coverage across the country. A number of articles appeared in national broadsheets such as the Financial Times, The Times, The Guardian and The Independent. Several media events took place resulting in national TV coverage including the BBC and ITV interviewing the Mayor of London and other GLA officials about the ULEZ. The expansion has also been discussed several times on radio including BBC Radio Four, BBC’s regional radio stations including Radio London, Essex and Radio Kent, and LBC. International media also reported on the expanded ULEZ and a briefing was held with the Foreign Press Association to help journalists inform those driving into London from overseas of the changes to the ULEZ area. We also engaged with a range of national stakeholders to publicise the ULEZ expansion. These included businesses and trade organisations, motoring organisations, and NGOs, for example those representing older and disabled people Ahead of the ULEZ expanding we also ran messaging to inform drivers of the change on electronic variable message signage across the TfL road network, which appeared from 12 August. In additional electronic variable message signage owned by National Highways ran the same message from 14-28 August on key approach roads into London. There is also fixed signage at the entrance to the expanded area. Broadcast TV reach (Up to 50 miles outside of London, subject to the terrain). Radio airtime reach Up to 25-30 miles outside of London, subject to the terrain What research has been carried out to ensure signage is effective on the ulez route? The signs were designed in consultation with the DfT. Therefore no such research was required. What behaviour change methodology has been used in the implementation of the ulez expansion? The development and implementation of the ULEZ expansion was informed by business evidence from previous implementations of iterations of the scheme, and the subsequent evaluations and reports published. How many PCNS have been retracted when they have been represented and what were the grounds for this? On receipt of a penalty a motorist has the right to challenge it by submitting a representation to us. If this is accepted the penalty is cancelled. If rejected the penalty remains payable and a further right of appeal to an independent adjudicator at London Tribunals is granted. Of the 217,244 PCNS issued, we received 14,798 representations. As of 6 November, 6,852 of these have been accepted. When dealing with representations we exercise discretion and consider mitigating circumstances. This can result in a representation being accepted despite the penalty having been correctly issued. The most common reasons for this is when a motorist pays for an incorrect date of travel or vehicle registration when purchasing the charge, or when the penalty is issued due to an issue with an Auto Pay account. Other issues include an account holder adding an incorrect vehicle registration to an account or an account being closed following numerous payment failures. When we deal with such issues, in order to prevent further penalties being issued, we advise the customer on payment methods and how to ensure their Auto Pay account is kept updated. PCNs which are cancelled due to the vehicle being compliant are instances when the motorist provides us with additional evidence to confirm their vehicle meets the ULEZ standards which was not previously available to us. The other category includes instances when there has been a processing error, the recipient is deceased and if the vehicle was driven without the consent of the registered keeper.
Accept Reason
PCNs
ULEZ - Compliant
1880
Customer Auto Pay Account Error
1738
Personal private plate change
722
Ringer/ Clone
547
Paid incorrect VRM Date Via Web Customer
486
Sold vehicle before DOC(s)
482
Customer Payment Error
117
Valid Hire Agreement - Liability Transferred
66
Mitigating Circumstances
190
Forced/ Diverted into the Zone
38
Blue Badge - 1st Contravention
152
Other
434
Total
6852
Why are the DVLA only writing to car owners in the ULez zone when the scheme applies to anyone driving into London? And the fines and expectation are the same as if you weren't written too? The DVLA sent letters on behalf of TfL to registered keepers ofnon-compliant vehicles across the UK, including cars, vans and motorcycles, seen driving in the zone before the ULEZ expanded from 29 August 2023. Letters were sent based on identifying non-compliant vehicle registration marks (VRMs) seen driving by our Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras within the ULEZ expansion area. The letter provided information on the vehicle’s compliance status, the options available to vehicle owners including the scrappage scheme, grace periods and how the scheme operates including how to pay. The DVLA do not share registered keeper data with TfL or any third party for this purpose, and TfL does not know to whom or where these letters have been sent. The fine and associated requirements of a registered keeper of a vehicle in receipt of a fine, are the same no matter whether a vehicle owner received a letter or not from TfL via the DVLA. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
