Sadiq Khan could extend Congestion Charge hours as drivers use loophole to avoid paying daily fee

Drivers could see the Congestion Charge time frame extended to 6pm in a desperate bid to crack down on traffic levels in the city.

Fresh data has suggested that increasing the operating time of the Congestion Charge could tackle traffic in the West End.

Research found a 56 per cent spike in car traffic between 6pm and 7pm as drivers use the loophole congestion end time to travel.

The Congestion Charge currently operates between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, with reduced hours of 12pm to 6pm on the weekends and no charge on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Clean Cities found that 6,170 cars entered the charging zone between 6pm and 7pm, compared to 3,955 vehicles which travel in the zone between 8am and 9am.

Drivers who travel within the zone during these hours are now required to pay £18, up from £15 in January, with rulebreakers issued fines of £180, which can be reduced to £90 if paid early.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: "While the Congestion Charge has been a huge success since its introduction, we must ensure it stays fit for purpose, and sticking to the status quo would see around 2,200 more vehicles using the congestion charging zone on an average weekday next year.

"We must support Londoners and businesses to use more sustainable travel, so I'm pleased that substantial incentives will remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles, as we work to build a greener and better London for everyone."

Traffic in the morning peak in central London has declined each year since 2023, but is higher in the evening than it was two years ago.

Oliver Lord, UK head of Clean Cities, which compiled the report, said: "You'd think London's roads calm down after work - but after 6pm the West End turns into the Wild West, with no congestion charge and few parking controls.

"Traffic gridlock isn't inevitable, it's the result of policy choices - when weeknight congestion charging was in place, traffic fell."

He warned that while cities across Europe make it easy and inviting to walk, spend and enjoy the evening, "London's night-time economy is being choked by cars".

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During the pandemic, Sir Sadiq Khan extended the hours of operation of the charge until 10pm but decided to bring back the 6pm end in February 2022 to help boost interest across the nighttime sector.

Christina Calderato, TfL's Director of Strategy, added: "If we want to ensure that London remains a thriving city for everyone to enjoy, then it's vital that traffic and congestion are kept under control and managed effectively.

"The changes to the Congestion Charging scheme play a key role in allowing us to do that, while striking a careful balance that enables drivers, businesses and other organisations to continue transitioning to cleaner vehicles and more sustainable forms of transport."

However, campaigners have now urged the London mayor to bring back the 10pm closure time as part of the ambitious pedestrianisation of Oxford Street plans.

The campaigners argued that the move to block cars from the popular shopping district would "fix" the West End and make it better for pedestrians.

The move to pedestrianise the road has sparked concerns around public transport access, with 14 bus routes forced to change.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport stated: "Re-routing HGVs and buses onto constrained streets can create safety, congestion and environmental problems for those who live and work nearby.

"CILT has encouraged a phased, adaptive approach, with pilots, monitoring and the flexibility to adjust the scheme as impacts become clearer."