www.bifa.org


Policy & Compliance


BIFAlink


this subject, charges will be levied on both private and commercial vehicles. BIFA commented that as charges are fixed at the local level, there is considerable inconsistency in the level and imposition of charges, with the HGV being charged a disproportionately high level compared with the private motorist. Work is progressing on the two services that


will enable payments to be taken in the Drive in a CAZ service: • Pay a charge for a single vehicle, • Business account for multiple vehicles.


Since May this year, there has been research


Updates on the launch of Clean Air Zones


With NO2 climbing, the Department for Transport and


DEFRA are looking at introducing Clean Air Zones around the country. BIFAlink looks at where they may be coming in and how they will work


The Joint Air Quality Unit of the Department for Transport and DEFRA has been working with local authorities regarding the introduction of Clean Air Zones (CAZ), taking into consideration the impact of COVID-19. It has concluded that even with the ongoing


uncertainty stemming from the pandemic, measures are required to bring NO2


levels down


to protect the health of communities. Evidence shows that NO2


levels increase (in many places to consistently above 90% of pre-lockdown levels). As detailed in the following article, progress


towards implementing the first Clean Air Zones (CAZs) is ongoing.


Birmingham and Bath & Northeast Somerset Clean Air Zones Work with Birmingham is moving forward and a decision about the launch date is expected by the end of 2020. The Joint Air Quality Unit is working closely with Birmingham council to ensure it has the support needed for launching a CAZ. Similarly, Bath and Northeast Somerset are


progressing towards introducing their CAZ in early 2021. As BIFAlink went to press, an announcement regarding the launch date was anticipated.


November 2020 levels are rising again as traffic


Leeds Clean Air Zone Recently, there has been a lot of discussion on the topic of Leeds implementing a CAZ. Currently, work is being conducted in collaboration with Leeds City Council to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on air quality and understand whether a CAZ remains necessary, or whether NO2


compliance to the same


timeframe can be achieved and maintained in other ways. It is expected that decisions will be made this autumn. The government needs to be confident that compliance is not just achieved, but reductions in NO2


are sustained, which is why the situation is


being examined in detail. The Joint Unit believes that a CAZ needs to be


introduced in Leeds for the city to meet its NO2 targets. Preparations in Leeds are continuing in the meantime, so one can be swiftly implemented if the evidence suggests that a CAZ is needed to achieve long-lasting compliance.


Bristol Clean Air Zone Bristol is working on an ambitious set of green transport measures. While these are being developed, and their impact on air quality understood, progress continues on the CAZ so that it can start as soon as possible after approval.


Payment service As we detailed in a previous BIFAlink article on


undertaken and usability testing sessions every week with users. In recent weeks, there has been increased testing with fleet users who have been testing the service in a live production environment.


Business fleet users – help required The Joint Unit is seeking transport operators’ assistance to conduct user testing of the Business account for the multiple vehicles service. This activity is key to the ‘private beta phase’, where the service is made available to a controlled group of users prior to is operational launch. It is planned to launch the accounts service before the end of this year to allow businesses and companies to manage and understand their vehicles’ compliance. The aim is to support fleet users with their preparations before CAZ launch in 2021. If Members are interested in participating in


trialling this system and the associated research, please email Daniel.fyfield@defra.gov.uk and Lisa.Latham@Informed.com, and a member of the CAZ research team will be in touch.


Accuracy of the ‘Check if you will be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone’ service Lastly, work is continuing on the ‘Check if you will be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone’ service (the vehicle checker), including work to incorporate ‘early adopters’ into it. Early adopters are those vehicles manufactured to a higher euro standard, and therefore compliant with the requirements of CAZ before it was a legal requirement. Further engagement with manufacturers and


with managers of fleets with large numbers of early adopter vehicles is welcomed. If you are interested in this part of the project, please contact sam.harrison@defra.gov.uk . In order to meet stricter environmental


requirements, BIFA anticipates that at both national and international level there will be greater use of such initiatives designed to reduce the use of vehicles, especially fossil fuelled, but they will have a knock-on effect on costs.


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