The RAC says London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s plans to increase the maximum penalty charge notice on red routes in the capital from £130 to £160 as “unnecessary”.

GB News quotes RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes as saying, “Only last week, the mayor announced hikes to the Congestion Charge, and now he follows this up with an unnecessary hike in the penalty charge level.”

The announcement comes after the announcement that the increase in the Congestion Charge to £15 will be permanent.

London’s red routes are roads managed by TfL, and have special rules on when and where vehicles can stop and park in a bid to keep traffic flowing. They make up 5% of the capital’s roads but carry 30% of traffic.

GB News also quotes Lyes as saying, “Only last week, the mayor announced hikes to the Congestion Charge, and now he follows this up with an unnecessary hike in the penalty charge level.

“The previous levy should have been a sufficient enough deterrent to prevent contraventions, so this rise appears to be nothing more than a money-grab.

“It is starting to feel like the Mayor of London is waging a war on drivers and businesses that rely on their vehicles with another eye-watering hike.”

TfL’s director of compliance and policing Siwan Hayward insisted that “we’d much rather people follow the rules than fine them”.

(Picture – Transport for London)