London Driver on Congestion Pricing

<br> <p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><i>Barny Crocker:</i> [00:09] The congestion charge came into play about seven years ago in London. At first it was just Central London, the city basically. But recently they’ve just expanded the congestion charge to include West London, so parts of Nottingham and Kensington. I try and go into Central London as little as possible now because it costs me £8 each time, which is a lot of money. There was massive resistance to the congestion charge when it was first brought in, but as soon as it came in I think everyone was quite surprised about how effective it was. So when they doubled the price a few months ago, I think people accepted it quietly. If you don’t pay your £8 daily congestion charge by midnight of the day that you’ve been in the zone, they fine you. They take a photo of your number plate, find out where you live, contact you and you are issued with a £50 fine, or £100 if you don’t pay within two weeks. There’s definitely less traffic now in London since the congestion zone came into existence. It’s easier to get round if you do go in the zone. So it has been successful. From what I know of New York, it sounds like a busy place, it sounds like it could definitely help congestion. I’m sure it won’t be popular but sometimes you’ve got to do what you got to do. </font> <br></p> http://transcriptdivas.ca/transcription-canada/