Report from Mayor of London highlights possible future transport policies - RAC reaction

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

Following the publication of a new report from the office of the Mayor of London, RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said:

“These proposals would create massive financial challenges for individuals, families and businesses who run a car in London and even for those who visit the fringes of the capital. We all want to see cleaner air and cleaner vehicles on the road and it’s right the Mayor has ambitions to reduce emissions from road transport but these proposals could be beyond the means of many and will punish those who simply cannot afford an electric car. Our research suggests fewer than a third of drivers in London expect to switch to an electric vehicle within the next five years, and at the same time the Mayor himself cannot commit to a zero-emission TfL bus fleet until 2037.

“Worse still, proposals to charge vehicles outside of London to enter the boundary is likely to impact hardest on workers such as carers, tradespeople and night-time economy staff for whom there is no alternative to using a vehicle. At a time when the basic cost of living for Londoners is soaring, these proposals seem to be poorly timed, so we strongly urge the Mayor to think again instead of defaulting to extracting more money from the pockets of London’s drivers.” ​

Press office team

Press office team

For journalist enquiries only

Share

Latest News

Website preview
Private parking firms on track to issue nearly 14.5m tickets to drivers in a year
Car park management companies have made 41,000 requests a day for vehicle keeper details in six months from April 2024
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
MPs and roads experts meet face-to-face to help solve Britain’s pothole crisis
First-of-its-kind event gave MPs the chance to learn from road industry experts Exclusive data showcase revealed state of the UK's roads
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
RAC ‘pothole breakdowns’ double in first three months of 2025
RAC patrols attend 9,439 breakdowns due to poor-quality roads in first quarter
media.rac.co.uk

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About RAC Media Centre

The RAC Media Centre provides journalists and news outlets with the latest motoring-related news, comment, data and research.

The RAC is an iconic UK brand, and provides complete peace of mind to nearly 14 million UK private and business drivers - whatever their motoring needs. As well as its premium nationwide breakdown assistance service – with an expert branded patrol workforce attending more than two million breakdowns every year – and European breakdown assistance products, it offers a wide range of market-leading products across insurance, legal services, vehicle inspections and service, maintenance and repair. Included in this is the first-of-its-kind nationwide Mobile Mechanics service which brings the garage to homes and workplaces. 

At the forefront of new solutions for business fleets and consumers, the RAC’s breakdown service is electric-ready with mobile EV charging technology and be called on using myRAC – its all-in-one route planner, fuel finder and breakdown reporting app