RAC Report on Motoring 2016

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4.0 Air quality and the environment
At the end of 2015, the Government
announced plans22 to improve
air quality in those English cities
unable to meet EU air quality
minimum standards by introducing
a number of Clean Air Zones.
This policy is likely to see the most
polluting commercial vehicles
charged for entering certain parts
of Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham,
Derby and Southampton by 2020
– but the proposed approach is to
target the greatest contributors
to nitrogen dioxide emissions such
as buses, taxis and commercial
vehicles so owners of private cars
may not be affected.
Most motorists (55%) support such
proposals – only 12% say they are
against them – with almost half
(42%) saying they were already
aware of the Government’s plans
for Clean Air Zones.
The environmental proposal which
receives the least support in the
Report is for the introduction of
charges for ‘all diesel vehicles’
entering areas with the poorest air
quality: only 42% of drivers think
this is a good idea against 30%
who do not.
This is worth noting given the
schemes introduced over recent
years by certain local authorities,
such as Islington in north London,
which imposes surcharges for
parking permits for all private diesel
cars, regardless of how much they
are used or whether they meet the
most recent – and therefore most
stringent – emissions standards23 .
22.
23.
RAC call to action:
Environment: see page 91
55%
of drivers support the
Government’s proposal to
establish Clean Air Zones
where pollutant levels exceed
safe standards
27%
of drivers are unaware
of plans for Clean Air Zones
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RAC Report on Motoring 2016