Cameras installed as ULEZ expansion nears

New cameras are now being fitted to catch drivers who have not paid the toll to drive in the soon to expand Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

The ULEZ currently covers the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone and the new cameras will enable it to expand up to the North and South Circular in October 2021.

The central zone has seen the number of vehicles meeting the tough emission standards rise from 39% in February 2017 to more than 80% now complying, according to TfL. The area covered by the existing Congestion Charge and ULEZ has around 650 cameras. The new zone will be 18 times the size, but new technology means only around 750 additional cameras will need to be installed. To reduce the number of additional sites required, TfL is prioritising cameras at locations already used to monitor traffic, on existing lamp columns and on traffic signals. When preparing for the expansion, TfL says it will use its experience of handling large volumes of data and respecting privacy from the 17 years the Congestion Charge has been in place, and more recently ULEZ. This, it says, will ensure seamless payment of the charge and secure handling of data.