Your city is introducing a low emission zone - here's what it means

Low emissions zones are being launched in Scotland's four biggest cities today.

These plans set limits on the emissions in certain areas, with the aim of improving air quality.

They target built up areas, so city centres are where we will see them placed.

In order to do this the vehicles which emit the most will be banned for the zones, with non-compliant drivers fined.

How much is the fine?

Penalties for bringing a non-compliant vehicle into the LEZ will typically be set at £60, halved to £30 if paid early.

Petrol cars and vans will need to have engines at the Euro 4 standard, which generally applies to vehicles registered after 2006.

Diesel-powered cars and vans will need to be at the Euro 6 standard, mainly applying to vehicles registered after 2015.

Blue badge holders are exempt from LEZ requirements.

Can I be fined today?

Of course such a big scheme can't be be put in place over night.

Whilst these LEZs have been formally introduced, they won't be enforced yet.

The idea behind that is to allow a grace period where the public can be made aware of the policy, and prepare.

When can I be fined?

This depends of which city you live in. Aberdeen and Edinburgh will begin fully enforcing their LEZs from June 1st 2024.

Don't caught get out if you live in Dundee though, enforcement will also begin in the city of Discovery in 2024, but 24 hours earlier on May 30th.

Glasgow has a caveat, in that the policy will be fully in force a year earlier from June 1st 2023 - it's already in place for buses - but residents living within the zone have a whole extra year to prepare, lining up with Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Why?

"For too long air pollution has exceeded legal limits for health in our city centres as a consequence of unrestricted vehicle emissions." says Scotland's Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth.

Whilst this policy could have an impact on the planet by in theory promoting more walking, cycling and use of public transport, the messaging on this scheme highlights the health benefits.

The Minister continues:

“We have a moral responsibility to act. Air pollution often disproportionally impacts those with the least in our society. It causes the most damage to the youngest, the oldest and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

“LEZs are the biggest change we’ve ever seen in how vehicles will access our cities – and they need to be, in order to best protect public health and improve air quality."

Joseph Carter is Head of Devolved Nations at 'Asthma + Lung UK'.

Their data shows one in five Scots will develop a lung condition such as asthma or COPD in their lifetime. Living, working and learning in areas with high emissions rates can worsen and even cause these sorts of illnesses.

He said: “Children’s lungs are also more susceptible to air pollution as they are still growing, and they also breathe faster than adults. As they grow, toxic air can stunt the growth of their lungs, making them less resilient into adulthood and placing them at greater risk of lung disease in the future. More than 70,000 children have asthma in Scotland and for them, peaks in toxic air can put them at risk of a potentially life-threatening attack.

“The gradual roll out of Low Emission Zones is going to be a huge step forward to start tackling this major health problem. Starting in Glasgow in 2018 and then extended to our core cities with the Transport Act 2019, LEZs are one of the most effective way of reducing pollution.”

Where is my LEZ?

The local authorities in each city have provided maps on where their LEZs will be located.

Aberdeen:

Dundee:

Edinburgh:

Glasgow:

What can I do?

First and foremost you can check if your car meets criteria to be be allowed access to an LEZ here.

And you can find out more about the schemes and see information on Government funding on offer here.

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