TfL ‘misled’ the public about the benefits of Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ scheme in radio and newspaper adverts, draft watchdog report claims

Transport for London (TfL) ‘misled’ the public about the benefits of Sadiq Khan’s Ulez scheme in radio and newspaper advertisements, a draft report claims.

The advertising watchdog launched an investigation earlier this year after hundreds of people complained that the Mayor of London’s transport authority exaggerated the extent to which the scheme had improved air quality.

Now, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) report is set to criticise ‘misleading’ claims about the expansion of Ulez reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), The Sunday Telegraph reports.

A draft ASA report specifies these claims going out in Tfl’s radio and newspaper advertisements. 

Recommendations in the report allegedly suggest that two complaints about two radio adverts and one in a newspaper are to be upheld, the publication claims.

Transport for London ( TfL ) ‘misled’ the public about the benefits of Sadiq Khan’s Ulez scheme in radio and newspaper advertisements, a draft report claims

ASA launched an investigation earlier this year after hundreds of people complained that the Mayor of London’s transport authority exaggerated the extent to which the scheme had improved air quality

Following the ASA’s investigation, it suggests two adverts were ‘misleading’ because they ‘did not clarify’ claims NO2 levels had ‘reduced by nearly half’ as a result of Ulez, and were based on ‘estimates or modelled scenarios’ and not ‘actual figures’.

The second complaint set to be upheld found an advertisement that claimed deaths from pollution were higher in outer London failed to make clear that the area had already been covered by Ulez, the newspaper reported.

TfL, which is chaired by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, spent millions of pounds on marketing ahead of expanding the Ulez to cover the whole of the capital from August 29.

READ MORE: Nearly 1,000 Ulez cameras have been stolen or damaged in the last seven months – as two people charged with criminal damage

It is understood Mr Khan’s office will strongly reject any suggestion the adverts were misleading.

Vehicles used in the Ulez area that do not meet minimum emissions standards are liable for a £12.50 daily fee.

Figures released by TfL last month show around 60,000 vehicle owners a day are paying the £12.50 Ulez fee for using vehicles that do not meet minimum emissions standards.

Many opponents of Ulez expansion claim the scheme is aimed at generating revenue for TfL, but Mr Khan has insisted the policy is boosting air quality.

A TfL spokesman said: ‘We have received the draft recommendations from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and are strongly challenging them.

‘The ASA is not challenging the science. The science is absolutely clear about the significant harm of air pollution on people’s health and that estimated premature deaths from air pollution are higher in outer London than in inner London.

‘We are confident that the advertisement is accurate.

‘Scientific analysis based on modelled scenarios and estimates is standard practice in the scientific community.

‘We are meeting with the ASA to take them through the data and explain in detail how it is used.

‘It remains the case that the expansion of the ultra low emission zone is playing a crucial role in the reduction of air pollution – improving air quality for everyone in London and reducing the harms to health associated with vehicle emissions.’

Ulez cameras have been attacked nearly 1,000 times in just seven months, shocking figures reveal

Activists opposed to Mr Khan’s flagship policy – which recently expanded to cover the entire city – have attacked hundreds of static cameras

The ASA and Mr Khan’s office refused to comment on the leaked document. However, a source stressed that the final ruling had not yet been issued and so the findings could change. It is understood the ruling could be issued officially in the next few weeks. 

Since August 29, Ulez has been expanded from the North and South Circular roads to cover the whole of Greater London.

People who drive in the zone with a polluting vehicle and fail to pay the £12.50 daily fee are initially being sent warning letters. 

READ MORE: More spy cameras are stolen by activists as Sadiq Khan faces growing backlash over expansion of hated scheme which sees motorists charged £12.50 EVERY time they drive

But Ulez cameras have been attacked nearly 1,000 times in just seven months, shocking figures reveal.

Khan’s expansion of Ulez to cover the whole of Greater London has been met with anger by affected motorists.

There has been widespread evidence of cameras and vans becoming the target of activists as they are sprayed with paint or even toppled in an effort to halt the tax on drivers.

Earlier this month, the Met Police said there have been 987 crimes relating to the cameras in the capital, including 220 reports of them being stolen and 767 being damaged. 

The force also confirmed there have been five arrests and two charges in relation to the attacks.

In addition to this, up to two million British motorists could be doctoring their number plates to avoid being caught out by specialised cameras designed to enforce Ulez zones and speed limits, a police investigation suggested. 

A report prepared for British ministers by Tony Porter, the former surveillance camera commissioner, revealed that 6% of cars had some sort of technology to defeat automated number plate recognition [ANPR] cameras. 

The study, conducted from an ANPR camera trained on a dual carriageway in Gatwick found that 41 out of 683 number plates used some kind of anti-ANPR tech. 

Under Ulez, drivers must pay £12.50 a day to drive in the capital if their vehicle fails to meet emissions standards 

If this were extrapolated to the rest of the country, then one-in-fifteen UK may have some kind of anti-ANPR tech.  

He also pointed to another study which found that 40% of taxis and private hire cars had some sort of ANPR-defeating technology.  

TfL is expected this month to start issuing rule-breakers with £180 fines, which could rise to £250. If paid within 14 days, it is reduced to £90. 

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: ‘The Met continues to treat criminal activity in relation to ULEZ seriously and has deployed considerable resources to our operation. 

‘Where there are possible lines of enquiry, local investigators will follow up using a range of investigative approaches including CCTV trawls, witness searches and an assessment of forensic opportunities.’

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