A “smart camera” is being installed to enforce a new weight restriction on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in Drayton Park, to reduce congestion and improve air quality for local residents.
The new 3.5-tonne virtual weight restriction is the first of its kind in London and will operate 24 hours a day.
Work began on Tuesday with the roll-out expected by the end of March.
New technology allows the camera to identify a vehicle by its size before predicting its weight category. The camera, linked to the DVLA, will then confirm the actual weight before a decision is made on whether to issue a penalty notice.
The existing 7.5 tonne lorry limit on the surrounding streets of Highbury West will remain in place.
The move comes after concerns were raised by residents about the number of HGVs using the Highbury West area as a through-route.
Cllr Claudia Webbe, the council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “We’re committed to reducing the number of lorries on our residential streets to clean up the air we breathe and provide more space for walking and cycling.
“Drayton Park is known as a major pinch point for through traffic, including big lorries, and this pioneering trial with a smart camera will reduce congestion and also cut emissions caused by these HGVs within a residential area.
“We are going further by extending our lorry ban, which currently applies to vehicles 7.5 tonnes and over, to also include a ban on all vehicles 3.5 tonnes and over. If our trial is successful we want this enforcement approach to apply to residential streets borough-wide.”
The weight restriction is being introduced under an experimental traffic order and will stay in force for up to 18 months while the effects are monitored. Traffic data and feedback from the public will be closely monitored throughout the trial period. If successful, it will be made permanent with the possibility of more weight-restriction cameras being used rather than physical barriers.
Signs notifying drivers of the lower weight restrictions will be put up at every entry point to the Highbury West and East areas that have a through-route to Drayton Park to ensure HGV drivers know about them.
