Image source: BBC news
If vehicles in London and other cities are about to enter a low-emission zone, Google Maps will now warn them, and they will be charged with fees and fines. Several large cities have used similar plans to keep polluting traffic out of congested regions. However, it is sometimes unclear where such zones begin, which can catch both visitors and occasional local drivers off guard.
Drivers entering zones in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, London, and Paris will first get a warning from Google. The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in London encompasses the majority of the city’s tourist attractions and historical sites, including from Mayfair in the west to Whitechapel in the East, London has a lot to offer. From Clerkenwell in the north to Lambeth in the south, the area is known as Clerkenwell. Older automobiles that do not meet contemporary pollution requirements must pay £12.50 to enter the zone.
Drivers without a windshield sticker confirming their emissions may be penalized in the Paris zone:
Cars cost €68 (£58).
For larger cars, the fee is €135.
A comparable mechanism exists in Berlin.
“Alerts will show while planning a trip that passes through a low-emission zone, as well as when approaching a zone while already on the way to the destination,” Google explained.
“Based on this information, impacted customers can pick an alternate means of transportation or take a different route,” it stated, adding that they also connected to official local information. Other Google-owned applications, like Waze, already offer capabilities to avoid prohibited zones in some cities. However, Google Maps is the most popular navigation tool, with market share estimates ranging from slightly under 70% to about 80%. According to the firm, it helps efforts to reduce traffic pollution in densely populated regions.
Image source: Daily Express
It announced the change in March 2021, along with other planned modifications such as making the “eco-friendly” choice the default. Google Maps will begin directing cars to routes that it determines are the most environmentally beneficial based on a number of criteria. The search engine claimed it will use traffic statistics and road inclines to identify trips with the lowest carbon footprint.
The feature will debut in the United States later this year 2021, with global growth on the way, according to Google. The new function is part of the company’s commitment to combating global warming. Google Maps users will be able to compare driving, bicycle, public transportation, and other travel alternatives in one location rather than having to go between separate areas. The internet giant claims to have long-established environmentally friendly methods and has pledged to be carbon-free by 2030 in order to assist cities in tracking greenhouse gas emissions.
