Half a million drivers face being priced off the roads by eco-taxes in big cities, AA claims
HALF a million drivers face being priced off the roads by new eco-taxes in big cities, the AA claims.
Hard-up families who rely on cars will be worst hit by ultra low emission zones, it says.
AA president Edmund King said everyone agreed on the need to tackle air pollution. But he said: “It is wrong to discriminate against one section of the community. They are being run off the road.”
Drivers with a non-compliant vehicle — typically one registered before 2006 — are charged £12.50 to use the ULEZ in central London.
Analysis seen by The Sun suggests 350,000 people will be hit when it expands across Greater London in 2021.
A similar scheme mooted for Birmingham next year will hit a further 100,000, the AA claims. And it says tens of thousands more will suffer if Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle follow suit.
The AA claims as many as 40 per cent of those affected are among the worst-off drivers, who rely on cars for work or to get to the GP.
Mr King wants councils to use cash made from motoring offences to help drivers hit by the taxes to convert to greener electric vehicles.
Figures last month revealed 130,000 drivers were stung by the ULEZ in London in just three months.
Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng could not confirm when the Government’s fleet of cars would go fully electric or hybrid.
He insisted he tried to use public transport whenever he could.
The Sun revealed Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson had taken 38 flights last year – despite declaring a “climate emergency”.
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