Lynne Featherstone

In the article below, Liberal Democrat London assembly member Lynne Featherstone sets out the case for charging the drivers of 4x4 vehicles an extra £10 for entering the congestion charge zone.

She argues that it could tackle congestion and pollution, while cutting the number of pedestrian injuries. 

We want to hear your views on this issue.

ePolitix.com seeks to encourage debate between policy makers, members of the public and other interested parties.  To add your comments to this page, please email comment@ePolitix.com - including your name and location.

Note: ePolitix.com may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published.

Lynne Featherstone - 4x4s in London

The Liberal Democrats in London have put forward new proposals to double the toll on 4x4 motor vehicles entering the congestion charge zone, and the mayor rapidly jumped on our bandwagon.

As part of our ongoing review to make sure that the revolutionary congestion charge is working for London and Londoners, the Liberal Democrats have proposed a £10 fee increase for 4x4 vehicles entering the existing zone.

We believe that this might make Londoners think twice about using 4x4s in clogged city centre streets, thereby reducing congestion and pollution, and cutting the number of pedestrian injuries.

A few facts might be a useful starting point here. One in every seven cars bought in London is a 4x4, with Londoners buying more 4x4s than anywhere else in the country.

Not only that but 4X4s are among the most environmentally harmful vehicles on the market, emitting up to four times more CO2 than normal cars and only doing approximately 12 mpg in city traffic.

They emit up to 81 per cent more toxic nitrogen oxides and 41 per cent more tiny carbon particles, which are blamed for hastening death every year.

Reports also suggest that motorists in side impact accidents with 4x4s are 27 times more likely to die than those hit by other cars.

The City of London and its surrounding rural villages were built in ye olde medieval days of the horse and carriage and not in the modern times of the "Chelsea tractor".

Unlike Ken Livingstone I do not think that 4x4 drivers per se are "complete idiots". These vehicles are great for off-roading or for the wider, emptier and straighter streets that they have in the countryside or the USA.

However, in British city centres, 4x4s are a danger to pedestrians, a potential hazard to other road users, can cause more damage than any other type of car and take up more roadspace so increasing congestion.

But what about "white van man", you ask, and why are you hitting those in 4x4s and not those in vans?

Two points. The first is that, like it or not, "white van man" is usually performing an essential service for London in moving and delivering goods. Mostly, the 4x4 driver doesn’t.

The second is that the current congestion charge technology cannot cope with differential charging all that well.

Once we get more modern technology then by all means lets looks at different road pricing, so that a Smart car driver pays less than, say, a Bentley owner.

The London congestion charge has been a success, but the one size fits all congestion charge is both outdated and flawed. Until GPS technology system comes on stream, London needs new and innovative ways of using the existing equipment to enable roadspace in central London to work better.

When the mayor stuck his neck out with the congestion charge many people thought it would be doomed to failure. To his credit, he stuck by his guns and has been able to demonstrate its success.

Now we need to move on. Our other proposals include an earlier finish at 5.00pm to help theatres and restaurants, an extra day to pay the charge, and five free entries to the central zone for everyone every year. We are certainly not anti-motorist.

Let's use the congestion charge to get London to be safer, cleaner and a less congested city. This would mean those of us who take the bus or walk, cycle, and even drive "normal" cars around

London can do it safe in the knowledge we are less likely to come across the glorified fashion statement that is the urban four by four. 

Lynne Featherstone is the Liberal Democrat London assembly spokesman on transport, and chairman of the London assembly transport committee.

Your Comments

The core issues for London's retailers and their customer is the state of London's transport infrastructure.

Lynne Featherstone's desire to impose a knee-jerk levy on owners of 4x4 vehicles misses the point and does nothing to further a reasoned debate about transport in London.

Whilst the London Retail Consortium welcomes any plans which may reduce congestion and promote a greener environment, we believe there is a need for further independent and authoritative research into the true impact of the charge - across the whole spectrum of businesses within the congestion charging zones, especially shops small and large, chains or independent retailers within.

The LRC believes that improvements to alternative methods of transport, especially public transport, should be implemented before current road users are penalised where no alternative exists. We would oppose any extensions of the congestion charging zones or any increase in prices without a longer trial period and a clearer picture of the effect of the charge on our Capital.

More thought should be directed to real transport problems such as the current delivery curfews impacting on already hard pushed retailers, instead of exercising time and resources on prejudicial attacks on 4x4 cars.

David Southwell, director of the London Retail Consortium

The motor industry takes its responsibility to produce safe, environmentally friendly products seriously. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is therefore very concerned about some of the comments made against the modern 4x4 car. These seem to be based on unhelpful stereotypes rather than the facts.

Real facts:

• The Office for National Statistics and the SMMT say 5.4 cent of new cars bought in London fall in the 4x4 category. The one in seven statistic is plain wrong.
  
  
• Average new car emissions are falling every year. In the 4x4 category, CO2 emissions have fallen by 10 per cent in the last six years.  CO2 emissions from 4x4s are more than 12 per cent lower than in the luxury saloon segment and on a par with emissions from executive and sports cars.
  
  
• The super mini segment (including Citroen C2, Peugeot 106, Rover 25, and Vauxhall Corsa) has an average CO2 emission of 147 g/km. The 4x4 segment has an average CO2 emission of 244 g/km. This is nowhere near the four times suggested by the Liberal Democrats.
  
  
• Most sales in the 4x4 segment are diesel variants. These have better fuel consumption and emit less CO2 than petrol models.
  
  
• Manufacturers like Ford and Lexus have developed alternative fuel petrol/electric hybrid 4x4s which have equivalent fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to that of a standard saloon.
  
  
• All vehicles are subject to stringent European emissions legislation. The Euro IV standard is mandatory from 2006 but many 4x4 models, including versions of the Toyota Rav 4, Volkswagen Touareg the and Volvo XC90 already meet the Euro IV standard.
  
  
• Some of the most popular 4x4s, whilst admittedly taller, are in fact narrower and shorter than the average saloon car.  The Toyota Rav 4, for example, is nearly a metre (80.5cm) shorter than the Toyota Avensis. The BMW X3 is 27.6 cm shorter than a BMW 5 Series and 7cm narrower than the MINI. The Nissan X Trail is 11.2 cm shorter than the Primera.
  
  
• Accident prevention cannot be reflected in statistics but nevertheless this is an important factor in the safety of modern 4x4 vehicle design. Stability control systems are fitted as standard on models such as on the BMW X5, Mercedes M Class, Volkswagen Touareg and the Volvo XC90. Unfortunately this is not reflected in media comment.

Keith Lewis, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd

Only £10 - I think I would be tempted to increase this further. But I would also want to ensure that the cash was available to improve London's public transport. Sadly the salaries being paid in specialists in this vital area are so poor that the UK has experienced a brain drain in this field, so don't expect improvements in the medium term.

Tom Perry

I would like to pledge my support for Lynne Featherstone's proposals regarding 4x4's which should incur higher congestion charges. However, I feel the £10 increase will not affect the wealthy individuals who use these vehicles, and the increase should be a far more substantial £100.
 
We should be doing much more to protect pedestrians and cyclists, as they are being excluded from our roads and it is making mobility a complete farce for those of us who do not use our cars everyday and those  who walk and cycle to work.
 
Roger P Murphy