LEZs in Scotland: What you need to know

By admin On May 26, 2024

New Low Emission Zones in Scotland are set to come into force within the next week – banning non-compliant vehicles from four of the country’s largest cities.

Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) began last summer in an effort to tackle air pollution.

Dundee’s LEZ will get under way on 30 May, with Aberdeen and Edinburgh following suit on 1 June.

The three latest LEZ schemes were introduced two years ago, with a “grace period” implemented to give drivers time to prepare for full enforcement.

Vehicles entering the LEZ areas will need to meet certain emission standards or drivers will face a penalty.

Blue badge holders, emergency vehicles, motorbikes and mopeds will continue to be exempt.

The Scottish government believes the LEZs will improve air quality in city centres and protect public health.

Everything you need to know about Scotland’s LEZs:
• The LEZs will operate continuously, all year round.
• Emergency vehicles, motorbikes and mopeds are exempt.
• Blue badge holders are also exempt. However, drivers of vehicles that are non-compliant and those that do not have disabled vehicle/disabled passenger vehicle tax class will have to register for exemption in advance of travel into a LEZ.
• Fully electric vehicles comply with LEZ requirements across Scotland.
• 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 September 2015.
• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras linked to local and national vehicle licencing databases will help enforce the LEZs. When a non-compliant vehicle is detected in a zone, a Penalty Charge Notice will be issued to the registered keeper.
• Penalties for bringing a non-compliant vehicle into a LEZ area will typically be set at £60, halved to £30 if paid within 14 days.
• The fine will be doubled for each subsequent breach detected, with a cap of £480 for cars and LGVs and £960 for minibuses, buses, coaches and HGVs. If there are no further breaches within 90 days following a previous breach, the penalty rate will be reset back to £60.
• A national online vehicle checker – linked to a DVLA database – has been set up to allow drivers to check if their vehicle will comply with LEZ restrictions.

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GLASGOW

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Glasgow’s LEZ covers an area of the city centre bounded by the M8 to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket/High Street to the east.

DUNDEE

The Dundee LEZ scheme includes an area within the A991 inner ring road, excluding the Bell Street, West Marketgait NCP and Wellgate car parks.

The Overgate Shopping Centre is included in the zone, but as the ring road itself is not within the LEZ, the Tay Road Bridge is fully accessible to all vehicles.

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ABERDEEN

Aberdeen’s LEZ covers the entirety of Union Street and surrounding city centre roads.

A number of car parks – including those at Union Square, Gallowgate, West North Street, Frederick Street and Denburn – fall outside of the LEZ area.

EDINBURGH

Edinburgh’s LEZ covers the entirety of Princes Street and the Old Town, and encompasses landmarks such as Edinburgh Waverley Station, St James Quarter, the Scottish Parliament, and Edinburgh Castle.

Since 2019, the Scottish government said it has provided more than £13m through its Low Emission Zone Support Fund.

More than 4,000 non-compliant vehicles have been disposed of or retrofitted with cleaner technology.

This number includes support for taxi drivers, with more than 450 taxis being retrofitted with the help of grant funding.

In a shift towards sustainable transport options, the fund has also enabled the purchase of more than 2,000 bikes, e-bikes or cargo bikes for homes and businesses.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop told Sky News: “The coming enforcement of Scotland’s Low Emission Zones across Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow is a truly significant moment for public health.

“Our air quality is already good and is getting better in our cities, however, there is no safe level of air pollution.

“Scotland’s four largest cities will soon join over 320 European cities who have responded to the growing understanding around the dangers of air pollution.

“Vehicle emissions cause the greatest damage to the youngest, oldest and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

“By restricting the access of the most polluting vehicles, we protect the most vulnerable and make our city centres better places to live, work in, visit and enjoy.”

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