Two weeks ago we talked about The Battle over ULEZ expansion in London since then things have progressed again.

In late July, London’s High Court dismissed appeals made by the five Conservative boroughs. In making his ruling, Mr Justice Swift said he was satisfied that expanding the scheme was within the mayor’s powers and that enough information was given for people to provide “informed responses” to the public consultation process. Sadiq Khan described the judgment as a “landmark decision” and said he would press ahead with the expansion on August 29th as planned.

The London mayor had come under intense political pressure from within his own party to rethink the enlargement and provide more support. On August 3rd, he announced that he would expand the established £2,000 ULEZ grant to all Londoners with non-compliant vehicles.

The decision was widely seen as a move to reduce the political fallout over the extension after the Tory by-election win in Uxbridge. The scheme will be available to any household with a non-compliant car or motorcycle, and is expected to cost £50m.

As of July 23rd, some 10,562 applications had been made to the scrappage scheme, with some £38.5m allocated to date. With the £50m addition to the scheme now being made, around £120m is still available.

Does the Ulez expansion effect you? Let us know in the comments. 

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There’s a lot to love about summer; the long warm days spent visiting friends and family, the day trips to the beach or country parks and the good old UK Staycation. What isn’t always so great is the hectic journey to get to these divine locations.

We’ve all been there at some point or another, stuck in a traffic jam in sweltering heat and often with the sight of some poor soul pulled up on the hard shoulder with vehicle trouble.

As tempting as it can be just to jump in the car and set off on your summer adventure, it’s important to know what preparations you should make ahead of setting off on your journey.

It’s equally as important to know what you should do if you become the person stranded on the hard shoulder of a busy motorway or even on a country lane.

Start Rescue has provided us with a useful checklist on what to do in the event of a breakdown, as well as pre-journey checks that you can carry out to help prevent breaking down in the first place.

Pre-journey checks

Most breakdowns are avoidable. 17% of all breakdowns Start Rescue attended in 2022 were due to tyre issues.

With a trend of increased reported breakdowns during the busy months of July and August these pre-journey checks can help you…

•  Check your fuel: Sounds simple, but check you have enough fuel. If you are driving an electric vehicle, ensure you have enough charge to either complete your journey or are able to plan where you can top up.
• Check your tyres: Check your tyres are pressured to the manufacturer’s guidelines. It’s also important to ensure your tyres have at least 3mm of tread. Look out for bald patches or any tyre wall damage such as cuts, bulges or nails that could have punctured the tyre wall.
• Check your oil: The oil in your vehicle helps to ensure that the engine runs smoothly, acting as a lubricant and helps to avoid it from overheating. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that you have the correct oil levels.
• Check your coolant level: Ensure you have the right coolant levels to avoid your vehicle overheating, especially in heavy traffic.
• Check your screenwash: Bugs and dirt on the windscreen can impair your vision so ensure the windscreen washer tank is topped up. Also check your windscreen wiper blades are in good condition.
• Pack useful items: It’s ideal to have drinks, snacks, a blanket and USB phone charger or portable power bank to hand, should you experience a breakdown.

If you are unsure about coolant levels, oil, tyres etc, check your vehicle’s manual for guidance, or contact a local trusted garage for a quick vehicle check over, as checking the above will take no more than 10 minutes.

What to do in the event of a breakdown

• Stay calm!
• Get your vehicle to a safe place: If you are on a motorway, if it is safe to do so, see if you can make it to the next exit. If you can’t, pull up on to the hard shoulder and stop as far to the left as you can, with the wheels turned to the left.
• Warn others you have broken down: Turn on your hazard lights and, if its dark or foggy, turn on your sidelights too. As long as you are not on a motorway, you can use a warning triangle if you have one, placing it at least 45m behind your vehicle.
• If safe, leave your vehicle: Exit your vehicle using the left-hand doors and move as far away as you can, behind a safety barrier if there is one. On dual carriage ways and motorways, look to move up the embankment away from the fast-moving traffic. Always stand in a position which is behind your vehicle, not in front or to the side in case your vehicle is hit by another.
• Broken down in a live lane? If you are unfortunate enough to break down in a live lane, immediately turn on your hazard lights. If you can’t get over to the left-hand lane, stay in the car, leave your seat belt on and call 999.
• Call for roadside assistance.

As Lee Puffett, Managing Director at Start Rescue commented:

 “Simple vehicle checks could prevent a breakdown and help make sure you get to your destination safely. However, should you find yourself unfortunate enough to have an issue with your vehicle, through our invaluable network of local recovery operators, we’re on hand 24/7 to assist stranded motorists. So be sure to check your tyres, screenwash and oil, but if you don’t know how to, take your vehicle to a trusted garage to perform a quick check, as it will take minutes and could save you a great deal in time and money further into your journey. Please don’t run the risk and then ruin your day out or holiday. Most of all, have an enjoyable summer, with the peace of mind that Start Rescue is here to help!”

Boris Johnson decided to introduce the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) when he was Mayor of London. It came into effect in April 2019, when Sadiq Khan became Mayor. A £12.50 daily charge applies for driving in the Ultra Low Emission Zone if a  vehicle doesn’t meet specific emission standards; broadly speaking, most diesel vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before January 2006.

Initially, the ULEZ covered the same central area as the Congestion Zone before widening to the North and South Circular roads in 2021. In November 2022, a further expansion to cover all London boroughs was confirmed, and this is due to start on 29th August 2023.

The Mayor’s office said it was needed to tackle air pollution, congestion and the climate emergency. Other cities in the UK, Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Bradford, Glasgow, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Newcastle and Gateshead, have introduced clean air zones. Others will soon follow.

Low-emission zones have been introduced to clean up the air, aiming to make people healthier and reduce the burden on the NHS brought about by air pollution. For the London ULEZ expansion, £110m has been set aside for a scrappage scheme for people on low incomes or disability benefits, some small businesses and London-based charities. Eligible drivers can get up to £2,000 for scrapping a car. The amount of money on offer differs for vans and motorbikes.

Serious concerns regarding the financial impact of ULEZ expansion have been raised by some residents, businesses and politicians. Some people affected say the scrappage scheme won’t help them. The cost of second-hand ULEZ-compliant cars has also risen. ULEZ expansion was a significant local issue during the Uxbridge and Ruislip by-election.

Five Conservative-led councils – Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey – have launched legal action over the expanded scheme. In April 2023, they were granted permission to challenge the legality of how the ULEZ plans developed in a judicial review; the review is ongoing. Many local authorities affected by the expansion do not believe their transport systems or residents are ready for the expansion. The Mayor has defended the plan, arguing it is necessary to help prevent health conditions related to air pollution and even excess deaths. Preparations such as installing cameras have continued.

The number of older polluting vehicles that have entered the current Ulez has fallen dramatically, with 97% now meeting the cleaner standards. Within that area, it is estimated that NOx emissions have fallen by 26% since 2019. Air quality has improved, but all Londoners still live in areas exceeding World Health Organization guidelines for both pollutants.

Diesel and unleaded prices are charging quickly currently, and competition is helping to drive down prices and ensure that UK drivers are being charged a fair price for their fuel. If you see a price that has changed, please consider updating it on the PetrolPrices app to help other motorists save on their fuel costs.

Our Statement

The team at PetrolPrices welcome the findings from the CMA Road Fuel Market study, which is exactly why PetrolPrices was formed in 2005, to help motorists compare fuel prices and save money at the pump.

Whilst we welcome the report and are encouraged about the findings, as a free of charge service already the PetrolPrices website and app already exist without any expense to the taxpayer.

PetrolPrices was founded in 2005 and helps over 1.5 million motorists a month save money on fuel.
We show prices for all brands of fuel stations across the UK and obtain data on Petrol, Diesel and Premium grades from the fuel stations and our wonderful community of drivers.

Our free app is available on both iOS and Android, plus we have a free website if you don’t wish to use the app.