Birmingham is launching its new Clean Air Zone (CAZ) on Tuesday 1 June. As a consequence road users in the areas are reminded to assess how this could impact their journeys and explore options for upgrading non-compliant vehicles. The CAZ scheme is designed to reduce pollution and encourage drivers to use zero-emissions vehicles.
Vehicles are not completely banned in the Birmingham CAZ but older and more polluting ones, which include pre-Euro 6 (VI) diesel and pre-Euro 4 petrol, will have to pay a daily charge to enter. Studies have suggested that around 60 percent of the 200,000 vehicles that enter the city centre each day could be affected.
Birmingham is the second CAZ to be launched this year, following Bath. Similar zones are also imminent in Bristol, Bradford, Portsmouth, Greater Manchester, Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside. Oxford is also launching its Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in August.
London already operates a more stringent Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). This will be extended to an area 18-times larger than the original Low Emission Zone by 25 October 2021.
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), the trade body for the vehicle rental and leasing industry, has launched a new clean air zones web guide that provides useful information for fleets and individuals. It outlines where the CAZs are located, how they work, what administrative support is available for business fleets and what options are available if people need to upgrade their car, van or truck.
Gerry Keaney, chief executive BVRLA, said: “Our rental and leasing members are a good option for someone who regularly travels through a Clean Air Zone. They have a huge variety of CAZ-compliant vehicles that are available on a flexible and fixed-cost basis.
“They are already helping tens of thousands of businesses and individuals make the leap to fully zero-emission motoring and can provide electric vehicles and charging solutions to meet every need.”
