Ulez

@jannier what I want/need/can or can't afford is irrelevant. People often make necessary changes to their lives when there is a financial imperative. Often it is the only way to make change happen.

The implementation is not perfect but the fact is that the ULEZ is there to improve our health by decreasing sources of pollution. How many more people have to be sick and/or die as a result of terrible air quality before someone says enough is enough.

I'm 60 and have never heard what you're claiming and despite your blaming labour, the conservatives continued to encourage use of diesel by not raising car tax. How long have we had a conservative government now .....hmm not done much to change things have they

Guessing you either have enough to buy a compliant car, don't need to carry heavy goods or many passengers, can afford the high commuting costs around the outskirts of London or have the time to add 2 hours onto your day by going in and then out on public transport, don't fly, don't need an ambulance, police car or fire engine because they are being charged too .....the argument against is also that at a time when people are having to sit shivering facing high inflation and use food banks despite working long hours adding £60 or so a week to costs is not going to keep them and their children out of poverty or in work. Postponing at least until the economy picks up in a year or two would make a massive difference ...but he needs the money to bail out TFL so doesn't care

How many hatchbacks have 7 or 8 seats and a boot that will take double buggy and 4 bags to get to the 2 schools that come out inside 10 minutes of each other and are 30 minutes walk from each other.
How many holidays do you take flying? A lot of us drive cars sold to us as efficient best buys for the environment now we're being sold electric vehicles that cause vast lithium lakes toxic to life but that's okay because it's not in the UK....the environment unfortunately still gets damaged and that will still effect us.

Also @OldCow1 what did you want from your post. A hand hold??

If so, why post on AIBU?

If you wanted to know if you’re being unreasonable to lament the high fine for going into the ULEZ? Then you have to expect some criticism in return?

But for you to sit there and spend the next half a dozen posts verbally attacking people who have dared to criticise you, is just bizarre.

What do you want from this thread?

I am so frustrated by some of the complete untruths being stated confidently as “fact” by folk who probably don’t think much further than “ooh my road tax will be £150 cheaper a year if I buy this diesel”.

yes, a while back, as in 15-20 years ago, diesel was favoured in tax terms by a government who were focused on one metric only - CO2.

they loved the idea that cars that emit less CO2 would help the environment.

What was ridiculous however was the complete overlooking of another thing - air quality. The one thing that matters hugely to those of us who are terrified by our kids inhaling noxious fumes from rows of idling diesels on the school run.

Particulates. It’s all about those nasty little particles that get into lungs, cause breathing difficulties. Diesels are the worst for them.

Unfortunately we now have a used car market stuffed with 2 litre diesel SUVs that perfectly meet most folk on here’s needs to be “high up” and not to be seen driving the unfashionable small petrol hatchback or MPV.

So some people will fight to the death for their diesels because they suit them. Irrespective of how they hurt others.

Yes, I forget Labour were in power 10 years ago. 🤔

And no, sorry, I don't have an engineering background and had never heard the "dirty diesel" comment you claim was so common. All I remember from my younger years in the 80's and 90's was diesel was SO much cheaper we always wanted to get a list with the diesel driving friend has our share of fuel costs would be so much cheaper!

Again. Doesn't help anyone now does it. Or improve public transport in the suburbs. Or find me the money to buy a new car. I will, more than likely just have to get the kids to give up their hobbies, give up my volunteering / close the youth spirts group I run, and stop engaging with healthcare.

Great science, professor.

I never understood why people believed the claims that diesel cars were better for the environment. The point of diesel is that you get more mileage from a tank. Growing up in the 80s I don't think anyone said "diesel" without the word "dirty" preceding it. 'Look at that twat in their "dirty diesel" Mavis' - that kind of thing. I think a lot of it is Labour's fault, the claims that diesel was cleaner happened on their watch and they were/are not known for telling the truth, especially under Blair/Brown/Starmer.

ULEZ is amazing - AQ on London streets has improved massively. BUT I do think a ‘first mistake’ letter ought to be sent, not an instant fine. Plus is deeply unfair the delay in the letter arriving means double fine. Am so sorry.

Having done my research, scrapping my ten year old car (sold on the basis of its eco credentials, and does 60mpg) and buying a newer car that meets our requirements would create much more pollutants than continuing to drive our car.

I was just pointing out that in the suburbs, public transport isn't anywhere near as good as in the centre. I now work from home (since covid I do around 2500 miles a year!), but my previous job was 2 hours on public transport or 30 mins in a car. To go to my local hospital is 3 different buses.

We have chosen to pay ULEZ twice a week for my son's hobby (public transport isn't an option at all for this). We live half a mile outside the zone. But expanded ULEZ I wouldn't be able to leave my road. No picking sick kids up from school. No driving to GP when ill. No dashing to pharmacy for a prescription. When ten years ago our car literally came with a Government endorsement for its eco friendliness.
I have NHS working friends living just outside the zone that don't kno how they will get to work. It's simply not as easy and 'changing cars'. Many people don't have enough money to do this when their current car isn't virtually worthless.

Convenience or inability to upgrade a car does not mean that people have right to continue use their polluting one.

Similarly the fact that some emissions are still compliant doesn't mean that older polluting cars are ok. Pollution is cumulative and the fewer polluting cars on the road the better.

No scheme is perfect but to let things go on as they were is utterly short term.

I would query that.

I am not sure of your point exactly?

It would also take me 40 odd minutes by bus to get to my nearest hospital and I too live in suburban London.

That does not negate the need for the ULEZ.

I got caught recently-I have a hybrid. Looked up the rules, which seemed to say that my emissions were below the level for paying the charge. Arseholes charged me anyway.

So. At the moment I have to have a blood test every two weeks. Public transport to get blood test centre takes 45 minutes. To drive is 10 minutes. One I can nip out for and use my lunch break for. Public transport in central London is excellent. But once out in the suburbs it isn't always that great.

If they really wanted to help air pollutants why continue to allow increased air traffic that dumps loads of leaded air fuel everyday. The cars already meet emissions tests. Why not make changing more affordable giving £1000 to a few isn't making it affordable to most who brought cars that were allowed and paid tax on them and now can't afford to replace them and can't afford to go to work it's a tax on the poor. Not everyone can use public transport my husband's metalwork needs a glass van to carry it ...he did the Savoy in the past using rucksacks and the tube to save money for tools etc but gates don't fit. If this goes ahead he can't sell his van and can't afford a new one. I can't take 5 children on a bus to 2 schools so 4 family cars will be on the road instead.

Ummm. You don't need an electric car to be ULEZ compliant.

It’s just a money making scheme by Khan. Most people can’t afford to buy electric cars!

Just pay the fine. There are sign’s EVERYWHERE- it’s even painted in the road!

@Naddd the ULEZ charge and fine is to stop people with polluting cars driving in the zone and hence making air cleaner.

TfL also run public transport so they can invest money in to decent public transport so fewer car journies are needed.

Licence

Yep tune to surrender your license. .

I'm guessing you missed the OP's second deleted post @Naddd

I don’t drive in London either, but I have heard of this and the congestion charge and if I were making a rare trip to London I would have looked into it. Or upon seeing all the signs I would have looked into it. I don’t drive over Dartford Bridge very often, but I know there is a charge and the big signs are a clue as well. It is very difficult to see how you can get caught out.