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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Levi Winchester

Drivers may soon need permits to drive across UK city - or risk £70 fine

Oxford residents would need permits to drive across the city centre if council plans to reduce traffic get the green light.

The proposals would see drivers given a pass that allows them to travel through the city on 100 days throughout the year.

Up to three permits will be issued to each household - but buses, coaches, vans, lorries, emergency vehicles, blue badge holders, and care workers would be exempt.

Oxfordshire County Council would monitor vehicles through automatic number plate recognition cameras.

The traffic filters would be in place on Hythe Bridge Street, Thames Street, St Cross Road, St Clements, Hollow Way, and Marston Ferry Road.

What do you think of these traffic measures in Oxford? Let us know by emailing: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

The restrictions could come into place in Oxford (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

If approved, the filters would operate seven days a week from 7am until 7pm. The only exception would be in Marston Ferry Road and Hollow Way, which would not run on Sundays.

If a driver is caught travelling without a permit, they would be slapped with a £70 fine.

A consultation on the new traffic measures ended on October 13, with the council expected to make a decision in November.

YouGov figures suggest 60% of the 249 people surveyed in the city support the traffic measures, while 30% are against them.

Robin Tucker, chair of the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel, told the BBC : "Currently our buses are slower than a horse and cart, and our city doesn't feel safe enough to get around.

"We need to see measures including traffic filters, a clean air zone and ways to encourage people away from commuting by car so we can all move freely and get where we want to go."

It comes as new research warned almost all UK drivers would fail their theory tests if they were to retake them today - and it may be because they haven’t kept up with Highway Code changes.

The code underwent some changes in January. But many drivers are out of date on their knowledge, posing a risk to themselves and others on the road.

A new survey, conducted by Age Co, found that only one in 10 UK drivers would have the proper knowledge to pass their theory test now.

What do you think of these traffic measures in Oxford? Let us know by emailing: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

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