Congestion Charging
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Ken Livingstone has rested the fate of his political career on a scheme that involves making those driving into the capital pay for something that has always been free to them - the roads. What's it all about?
Outline
As early as the 1930s, not long after the days when a passing car would cause people to come out of their homes to watch, the capital was gridlocked. Black London cabs sat stationary amidst a sea of stranded buses and cars full of men in trilby hats; a handful of prototypical traffic lights flicked uselessly from red to green.
In the 40s and 50s, vast plans were drawn up for motorways in and around the London conurbation. In the 1960s and 70s city streets that had been the same for hundreds of years saw their buildings swept aside for widenings, underpasses and new gyratory systems. In the 80s and 90s, traffic lights were tweaked and heads were scratched as, despite every effort, the jams just grew longer.
Ken Livingstone, elected London Mayor in 2000 and the man who, in 1988, said "I hate cars. If I ever get any power again, I'll ban the lot", saw a simple solution. Stop appeasing motorists and instead, just make them stop driving. This is the very basic aim of Congestion Charging.
What does Congestion Charging involve?
The scheme cordons off the most central districts of London - Westminster and the City. These were already encircled by an Inner Ring Road made up of existing city streets, and the scheme involved improving recognition of this route. Some proceeds from the scheme will go towards improving it.
The scheme is run by Transport for London (TfL) and has involved the development and installation of the following:
CCTV Cameras are mounted at every entry and exit point around the central area, and in a variety of places within it just to make sure. These comprise black and white cameras pointing at every lane to capture registration plates, and colour ones viewing the whole road.
The already notorious red 'C' signs at all entry and exit points to warn drivers of the start of the charging zone. White symbols (pictured) warn that a route leads directly into the CC zone.
Directional signs in the vicinity of the zone are also marked with the red 'C' to denote entry points to the zone, so those not wishing to pay can avoid doing so.
Specially equipped phone booths and dedicated kerbside machines in and around the zones where the Congestion Charge can be paid.
A colossal backup system of call centres and computer technology to log registration plates and send out bills to those who haven't paid.
As the scheme requires the replacement of thousands of road signs and the repainting of road markings across the city, it has the happy side effect that the capital's streets are looking very smart just now with lots of shiny new street furniture and fresh white paint.
How does it work?
During the times the scheme operates, the CCTV cameras are running. Specialised computer systems in the control centre are fed the black and white images, and read the number plates of the passing vehicles.
These number plates are then sent for processing. The computers check the registration, and first of all those which are registered taxis or buses are trashed (these vehicles do not pay the charge). The numbers are then checked against a list of those who paid in advance, and if the £5 fee has been paid then the image is discarded.
If it hasn't been paid, the details of the vehicle's owner are retrieved and stored on file, to be wiped if the charge is paid within the set time.
Those who don't pay have their charge bumped up over time, and eventually will find postal reminders on their doorstep, or even - if the vehicle is found within the Greater London area - have their car towed away.
What if someone doesn't pay?
This has been very well prepared for. The black and white image of the car, its registration plate, and data from the DVLA (Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency) is stored for prosecution and possible court case, and the image from the colour camera is also stored to provide corroborative evidence (like the colour and make of the car, to prove the vehicle was correctly identified).
Concessions
Ken Livingstone isn't such a bad person after all - he lets certain people off! If you fit into one of these categories, you'll find yourself with a significant reduction or maybe even a free ride.
| Category | Action | Discounted Charge |
|---|---|---|
| TfL bus or London-registered Taxi or private hire car | Nothing | FREE |
| Motorbike or moped | Nothing | FREE |
| Emergency services, NHS vehicle, or bus/coach | Nothing | FREE |
| Non-emergency police, fire, NHS or coastguard vehicle; Borough Council, Military or Royal Parks Service vehicle | Register with TfL | FREE |
| Non-emergency vehicle carrying on-duty firefighters, NHS staff, equipment or patients too ill to use public transport | Nothing | Full refund |
| Blue or orange disabled badge holder | Register with TfL | £10 one-off charge |
| Resident of the Charging zone | Register with TfL | £10 annual fee, and 90% discount |
| Alternative Fuel - electric, gas etc. or dual fuel - vehicle | Register with TfL | £10 annual charge |
With thanks to Rob Fairhead for information on this page.
