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Spy camera identifies polluting drivers
By Graham Tibbetts
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 18/07/2007

Drivers of vehicles that emit unacceptable levels of pollution could be targeted by a new weapon in the fight to improve air quality.

A spy camera capable of analysing exhaust fumes and recording number plates is being tested and reviewed by London transport bosses.

The Accuscan 4600 works by firing ultraviolet and infrared light across the road. It can scan 3,000 vehicles every hour and pinpoint transgressors in less than a second.

Transport for London has been testing the £100,000 device at Tower Bridge and could use them to help police its city-wide Low Emission Zone, due to come into effect in February 2008.

Drivers of lorries, buses and coaches that fail to meet the emissions targets will be charged £200 a day to drive into London.

The city's air quality is the worst in Britain and among the worst in Europe. Roadside air pollution has been on the rise in London for the past two years and a recent survey by Ipsos Mori found that 72 per cent of residents were concerned about pollution from traffic fumes.

The zone will begin by focusing on older, more polluting lorries then include lighter lorries and vans, with the aim of cutting emissions by 16 per cent by 2012. If successful, it could be adopted by other local authorities across Britain.

A TfL spokesman insisted that, if adopted, the new cameras would not be used to target drivers but to record the overall success of the zone.

TfL is currently installing different cameras around the perimeter of London capable of calculating from the model of each heavy goods vehicle whether it is capable of meeting the low emissions target.

Referring to the Accuscan 4600, the spokesman said: "A small trial has been undertaken of devices that measure pollutant emissions from vehicles, the results of which have been provided to Transport for London.

"We are studying these results, and if these devices provide robust data we will look at piloting them for emissions monitoring for the Low Emission Zone. However, we will not be using these devices to enforce the Low Emission Zone."

However, Duncan Mounsour, of Enviro Technology Services which has developed the Accuscan 4600, said the system could be used for enforcement.

"Should registered keepers of those vehicles not heed any notices that may be sent to them to get their vehicles tuned up and better maintained, then it could be used as a system to issue penalties," he said.

Under Department for Transport regulations, local authorities are empowered to conduct emission checks and fine drivers breaking legal limits. Until now, however, enforcement has been impractical.

Council officials have had to stop vehicles with the help of police officers and measure a vehicle's emissions using an electronic probe.

Drivers of lorries, buses and coaches that fail to meet the emissions targets will be charged £200 a day to drive into London.

Qoute"The city's air quality is the worst in Britain and among the worst in Europe. Roadside air pollution has been on the rise in London for the past two years and a recent survey by Ipsos Mori found that 72 per cent of residents were concerned about pollution from traffic fumes".

I do not live in London however, did the congestion charge not reduce traffic in London.

So how come if there is less traffic in London since the introduction of the congestion charge but the report above quotes that there is a rise in London's air Pollution?