Sustainability. It is the solution to meet the ever more stringent requirements around climate and nitrogen. For a long time it was thought that sustainability would come from an intrinsic motivation to be more economical with our energy needs. Surely there could be no better motivator than the environment, our health and our future? It seemed a logical thought. Yet an intrinsic desire for a better environment turns out not to be the ultimate catalyst. No, we only really start becoming more sustainable when we feel it in our wallets.

It became painfully apparent last year when energy prices shot through the roof and items such as solar panels, heat pumps and solar water heaters suddenly became unavailable. When sustainability provides a direct financial benefit or eliminates a financial disadvantage, the willingness to invest in alternative energy solutions is greatest. Transport for London, the government organization responsible for traffic in the British capital, had this very much in mind.

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London has environmental zones ('Low Emission Zones') to keep out the most polluting heavy diesel vehicles and encourage road users to use cleaner cars. In addition to these zones, Greater London has also established, in a slightly smaller circle, an 'Ultra Low Emission Zone' (ULEZ). For both zones, all vehicles operating within them must meet emission standards and be registered with Euro Parking Collection (EPC). Vehicles that are not registered can face a hefty fine.

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Trucks over 12 tons gross vehicle weight in London must further comply with the DVS (Direct Vison Standard) and have an "HGV Safety Permit. The DVS measures how much a truck driver can see directly through their cab windows. Regardless of whether the vehicle meets the safety requirements, any HGV, domestic or foreign, must have a safety permit before entering Greater London.

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For driving without a safety permit in Greater London, as with the environmental zones, hefty fines could be handed out. The DVS and environmental zones are part of London's "Vision Zero" plan to prevent accidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries in the city and to improve air quality. It is also a decent source of revenue for the municipal coffers. Although vehicles can be registered for free, fines are currently raining down. Interestingly, I also see many fines on violations dating back to 2021. Apparently the British enforcer has awakened from its corona sleep and is catching up.

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One worrisome development in this regard is that London is handing over the collection of fines when payment has failed to materialize after several reminders and demands. Recently, more and more transport companies have been approaching us with letters from the same collection agencies over and over again. Apparently, many carriers have ignored or never received previous reminders and are now facing hefty increases and collection costs. My advice: take action!

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Although the collection letters look somewhat obscure at first glance, they are legitimate and hefty increases and drastic collection measures lie ahead. Often, there is even something that can be done about the fines, as administrative omissions are usually involved. In fact, most vehicles simply meet the standards. So at a time when everything is getting more expensive, this is an easy way to cut costs.

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This article previously appeared on Nieuwsblad Transport link.