TfL is to consult on plans to increase the cost of its Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) to help reduce congestion and improve road safety.
The proposed increase – from £130 to £160, or £65 to £80 for early payment – is to ensure greater compliance on the roads and therefore improve traffic flow.
The increase would apply to offences on TfL’s road network and for failing to pay the Congestion Charge from early next year.
In the past five years there has been a 12% increase in the number of motorists being issued with PCNs. The rise from 1.3 million in 2011/12 to 1.5 million in 2016/17 is a clear indicator that the current deterrent is no longer effective.
More than a third of all London’s traffic use TfL’s red routes and vehicles that block roads, drive in bus lanes, park incorrectly or make banned turns, not only cause inconvenience to road users, but create hazards, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. By keeping these main routes clear, road danger and congestion are reduced, ensuring that London remains an efficient, well-functioning city.
