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Photo credits @ Alex Liivet from Chester, United Kingdom, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Glasgow Low Emissions Zone now fully operation

Scotland's first Low Emission Zone came fully into effect on June 1st in Glasgow, with vehicles that do not meet emission standards no longer allowed to enter parts of the city centre. The new regulations aim to tackle poor air quality, which has been a long-standing issue in the city.

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Glasgow has long held the title of having the most polluted street in the country. Before the pandemic, concentrations of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide on Hope Street in Glasgow averaged 50% more than the safe legal limit.

Figures published in 2020 by the Centre for Cities estimated that 600 deaths a year in Scotland could be attributed to air pollution.

Map by Glasgow City Council

The new low-emission zone is expected to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads, although it’s unclear whether it will entirely a significant number of vehicles from the roads or just shift them out of the city centre. Glasgow City Council is urging people to plan ahead and check if their vehicle is compliant on the Transport Scotland website.

The emission zone covers an area between the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south, and the Saltmarket/High Street to the east. However, the M8 itself is not part of the low-emission zone.

Glasgow City Council has installed signs and road markings at all entry points, and automatic number plate recognition cameras are being installed to detect non-compliant vehicles.

Which vehicles can enter free the Glasgow Low Emission Zone?

Petrol vehicles registered from 2006 onwards and diesel engine vehicles registered after September 2015 meet the required standards in general.

To meet the required emission standards, light goods vehicles must meet Euro 4 standards for petrol or Euro 6 standards for diesel engines.

Heavy goods vehicles must meet Euro VI standards for both petrol and diesel engines.

To check if a vehicle complies with LEZ emission standards, use the national online vehicle checker hosted by Transport Scotland.

What are the daily charges for non-compliant vehicles?

The daily charges for non-compliant vehicles vary depending on the type of vehicle and the level of emissions it produces.

For HGVs that do not meet the required emissions standards, the daily charge is £50. This applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes that do not meet Euro 6 emissions standards.

For vans and light goods vehicles, the daily charge is £10. This applies to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes that do not meet Euro 6 emissions standards.

It’s worth noting that these charges are in addition to any fines that may be imposed for non-compliance.

What are the fines for breaching Glasgow’s LEZ?

The owner of any non-compliant vehicle detected within the low emission zone initially faces a fine of £60, which will double with each subsequent breach, rising to a maximum of £480 for cars and light goods vehicles and £960 for buses and HGVs.

All penalties to be reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days.


Photo credits @ Alex Liivet from Chester, United Kingdom, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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