The Road Haulage Association (RHA) believes the increased fines for drivers failing to pay the London Congestion Charge (from £130 to £160) announced by Transport for London (TfL) is unjustified as a deterrent for poor behaviour and is little more than a tax on Londoners. If that were not bad enough, TfL has confirmed that it expects all Penalty Charge Notices, including those for illegal parking, driving in bus lanes and stopping in a yellow-box junction, to rise to £160 later in 2018, subject to a review by the Secretary of State.

The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has found himself in a position where he needs to raise money to pay for his public transport fare freeze and other spending. He is choosing to take money from the people and businesses of London who use motor vehicles to move around the city.

“This is a perfect example of robbing Peter to pay Paul,” said RHA Chief Executive Richard Burnett. “It’s a punishment tax on motorists and goods vehicle operators. London is one of the world’s major business centres and tourist attractions; for the city to work it needs the goods moved by the road haulage industry. Current policies being promoted by the Mayor are increasing congestion and attack motorised mobility of all types, including the essential movers of goods.”

Photo: London Mayor Sadiq Khan.