Driving in London is notoriously difficult, and that’s why a lot of commuters and visitors resort to public transport instead. But, driving around London doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems. Here at LMC Grays we would like to share some tips, so hopefully you can be put at ease on your next journey through the big city.
Understand the Congestion Charge
What is the Congestion Charge?
Most cars and other vehicles operating inside the Congestion Charge Zone must pay a daily fee of £15.
By entering a specific postcode, you can determine if you will be travelling through the congestion charge zone.
If you do drive through the zone, the easiest way to pay the charge is using AutoPay. This is a payment option which automatically charges you for the number of days your vehicle has travelled within the zone.
The charge was introduced to reduce traffic flow, and as a result air and noise pollution, as well as to benefit London’s public transport system.
When does the Congestion Charge operate?
07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank holiday (inclusive).
Watch out for bus lanes
If you drive into a bus lane by mistake, you could risk being fined £80-£160 if you do it in Greater London, and £30-£65 outside of Greater London. However, you don’t get any penalties on your licence.
If you do drive through a bus lane by accident, then try and leave it as soon as possible. Some bus lanes have CCTV cameras, so even if you think no one saw you, you could still be caught.
Plan your journey
London traffic can be extremely busy and stressful, so give yourself enough time to arrive safely. Use an app such as Waze to see if there will be any disruptions on your journey such as traffic incidents or road works. If there is, you’ll then have enough time to safely plan an alternative route.
Also try to organise parking. Plan ahead using an app such as Parkopedia which helps you find parking spots close to your destination, and tells you how much the parking will be.
With that said, if you are looking for a used car in London, take a look at our stock and find something that suits your commuting needs today!
Be alert
London is an extremely busy city, with life not stopping for anyone. It’s active 24 hours a day, so you have to be mindful of the fact you have to be very vigilant while driving, not just in relation to other cars but also keeping an eye out for pedestrians just walking out into the road.
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