London has some of the worst air pollution in Europe, much of it due to dirty diesels. So the city is imposing a 130-million pound program that will use cameras to monitor the emissions of large diesel trucks in an area deemed a low-emissions zone. The city will impose fines on those exceeding the EU exhaust limits. The plan will eventually be expanded to smaller trucks.
Not everyone is happy with the program. The "Times" blasted it as "a lot of hot air" that will be run at tax-payers' loss. It chided Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, for exaggerating the benefits. A press release from the mayor's office implied that as many as 1,000 lives a year could be saved from those who die prematurely from foul air.
Independent truckers are also up in arms. Operators of diesel vans and trucks more than six years old will have to pay 200 pounds to enter greater London--or face a 1,000-pound fine. The zone applies to all trucks weighing 12 tons. But starting on July 7, it will be enforced for all diesel vehicles weighing 3.5 tons. And in 2010, it will apply to vans and minibuses weighing 1.2 tons.
Low-emission zones are already planned or currently coded by law in 70 towns and cities across eight European countries, including Norway, the Netherlands and Germany.
Sources: Reuters, Times Online
