Fines for driving in low-traffic neighborhoods rose 30% last year. Can you appeal?
Fines for driving in low-traffic neighborhoods rose 30% last year. Can you appeal?
- More and more motorists are being fined for driving in low-traffic areas
- The average driver will be fined between £41 and £75 depending on the LTN
More and more motorists are being fined for driving in low-traffic neighborhoods (LTNs), with the number of fines set to rise by 30 percent by 2022.
LTNs are council-controlled areas where cars, vans and trucks are not allowed to drive.
The aim is to make neighborhoods less polluted and to encourage people to use healthier modes of transport, such as walking and cycling.
This is done using barriers, planters and road signs to close off roads, as well as cameras, depending on the LTN.
Growing trend: There are more than 100 LTNs in operation across the country
But more and more motorists are being fined for driving an LTN, according to research by car insurer Churchill Motor Insurance.
Drivers in Britain received 674,732 LTN fines in 2022, a 30 per cent increase from 519,780 in 2021.
This year, motorists have already had to pay 264,920 LTN fines between January and May.
The total value of LTN fines issued was £39.2 million in 2021, £40.8 million in 2022 and £10.9 million in the first five months of 2023.
The average fine for driving an LTN was £75.40 in 2021, £60.40 in 2022 and £41.14 in 2023.
The reason for the increase, according to Churchill, is a huge increase in the number of councils establishing LTNs
This showed that in 2022 and 2023 at least 21 municipalities operated LTNs – twelve municipalities more than in 2021.
As a result, there are 103 permanent LTNs in operation by 2023, compared to 87 in 2021.
Most LTNs are in London, with the Borough of Islington having 29 LTNs – more than any other council to provide data.
Outside London, LTNs have been introduced in Derby, Newcastle, Oxfordshire, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Rochdale, Sheffield, Wigan, Hertfordshire, Nottingham and Trafford.
| Council | Number of 2022 LTNs | Value of fines |
|---|---|---|
| Islington | 138,722 | £5.2 million |
| Hounslow | 115,477 | £11 million |
| Lambeth | 99.201 | £10 million |
| Walthambos | 61,339 | £2.6 million |
| Haringey | 60,186 | £2.5 million |
| Ealing | 59,002 | £3.4 million |
| Lewisham | 41,313 | £2.4 million |
| Enfield | 19,571 | £913,073 |
| Oxfordshire CC | 16,530 | £434,610 |
| Green wich | 10,406 | £596,502 |
| Source: Churchill Motorcycle Insurance | ||
In July, the government announced plans to launch a new evaluation of the rollout of LTNs.
Opponents of LTNs argue that the schemes unfairly disadvantage motorists and lead to increased traffic congestion.
Nicholas Mantel, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: ‘Low traffic neighborhoods are a controversial issue, and our research shows that the number of affected motorists is on the rise.
‘More municipalities are rolling out the schemes in their area and the number of individual LTNs is also increasing.
“When drivers are driving in major cities, they should try to keep their navigation systems up to date and pay attention to new road signs to avoid being caught driving new LTNs.”
Can I appeal against an LTN fine?
If you believe you have been wrongly fined for entering an LTN, you can appeal.
The first step is to appeal to the municipality that imposed the fine on you.
If that is not possible, motorists must turn to the Traffic Fine.
This is a free service for motorists that handles complaints about all local authorities in Wales and England, with the exception of London.
There are similar dispute resolution services – the Parking and Bus Lane Tribunal for Scotland and the London Tribunals – for drivers in Scotland and the capital.