Transport bosses are hoping an increased penalty charge will help boost the number of drivers who pay the Congestion Charge.
Over the past five years Transport for London has seen a 12 per cent increase in the number of motorists failing to pay the daily charge and being issued with Penalty Charge Notices.
The agency says this rise – from around 1.3 million in 2011/12 to around 1.5 million in 2016/17 – “is a clear indicator that the effectiveness of the current PCN fine has reduced over time.”
It’s hoping to reverse this trend by increasing PCN fees from £65 to £80 and from £130 to £160 for late payment, a move it hopes will make it unattractively expensive to risk driving into the charging zone without paying the charge.
Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL’s General Manager for Road User Charging, said: “We want to make London’s street safer and healthier places that are less dominated by the car.
“Although the Congestion Charge has been effective in reducing the number of cars entering central London, we’ve seen a 12 per cent increase in the number of motorists being issued with PCNs in the last five years.
“This shows that the deterrent factor of the existing PCN has reduced over time.
“The new PCN level will help improve compliance and also encourage people to consider cheaper and more active alternative forms of travel.”
The new PCN levels come into effect from 2 January 2018.
