FAQs
Commercial vehicles like vans and HGVs are generally used to transport heavy or bulky goods or tools. As a rule, it’s more difficult and in many cases impossible to do this using alternative means such as public transport or even cargo bikes.
Commercial vehicles often make multiple stops in different parts of the city (e.g. tradespeople visiting several properties, or distribution companies delivering to multiple addresses).
If commercial vehicles were not exempt, it’s likely some would arrive at filter locations and then need to u-turn to avoid the filter. There would be safety risks for other road users – particularly pedestrians and cyclists – if large vehicles were to u-turn in significant numbers. (The filters have been positioned and designed to accommodate turning cars safely, and advance signage is in place to minimise the number of cars needing to turn).
Exemptions for vans and HGVs also limit the amount of traffic displaced to the ring road and A34.
Our engagement with businesses in the city revealed that there were concerns about possible negative impact on the efficiency of delivery activity if commercial vehicles were not to be allowed through the filters.
where a suspension is requested by an emergency service as part of their response to an incident; or
where the enforcement of a filter would cut an area off from the wider road network (for example, when there is a temporary road closure close to one of the filters); or
where a special planned event with suitable legal order is in place.
reduce total traffic flows by around 20% across the city inside the ring road, and around 35% in the city centre during the morning and evening peak periods
improve average bus journey times during the day by 6.5% across the Oxford SmartZone, which includes Oxford and surrounding areas
increase bus and park and ride use by up to 10%
enable new and improved bus services
reduce road casualties by around 34 per year, of which over half would be reduced cycle casualties
lead to a 6% decrease in annual CO2 emissions associated with road transport in the city
reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations along 76% of assessed roads and at 91% of existing monitoring locations, with the scheme not resulting in any exceedances of national air quality objectives
increase cycling and walking trips by around 10%.
traffic levels at traffic count sites across the city. This includes locations inside the traffic filter area, the ring road and locations throughout the city. Much of this data is collected automatically by the county council’s traffic counters
cycle flows
air quality based on air quality monitoring locations throughout the city
bus journey times for services on all key corridors, and by time of day
impacts on specific groups with protected characteristics (including gender, age, disability, maternity) to assess whether the scheme has any adverse or unintended consequences
The council’s future decisions about traffic filters (including whether to abandon, retain, or amend them) will be influenced by many factors, including:
monitoring data
feedback from the six-month public consultation during the trial
the costs of operating and maintaining the scheme
legal advice
relevant local and national policy
Traffic filters’ impacts will be felt across a large area. Thresholds based on an average across the whole area may mask important differences in the scheme’s performance between different parts of the city.
Traffic filters’ impacts will change over time and may not have fully settled by the end of the trial. The council will need to consider trends, not just ‘snapshots’ at a particular point in time.
The scheme will have a range of costs and benefits, and the council will need to weigh these up and make careful judgements about the overall performance of the project. These judgements must be made by elected councillors, rather than being pre-determined by a technical process.
added new permits:
Frequent hospital patients
Car clubs
Approved driving instructors
Organisational shared cars (pool cars)
School cars used for home-to-school transport
Organisational blue badge holders
Magistrates driving to Magistrates’ Court
We introduced day passes (25) for residents in Oxfordshire.
We amended Oxford permit area to include the Shotover Hill area and residential areas adjacent to Barton.
We adjusted timings for Hollow Way and Marston Ferry Road filters to peak times only: 7am – 9am and 3pm – 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
I need to drive for my journey. How will I be able to do that?
All parts of the city are accessible by car without having to drive through a traffic filter.
If your current driving route doesn’t take you through a traffic filter or passes a filter but outside the hours of operation (7am to 7pm for most filters), your journey should be unaffected.
Some car journeys during the hours of operation of the scheme will need to take a different route, usually using the ring road. This may result in longer journey times.
Journeys through traffic filters, especially to and through the city centre, are expected to be faster and more reliable for people who are using resident day passes or any of the various types of permits available.
How does a traffic filter stop people from driving through?
The traffic filters are not physical road closures. They are monitored by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Cars going through without a permit can be identified.
Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).
There are traffic signs at the filters and on routes approaching them.
Can motorbikes drive through the trial traffic filters?
Yes. All motorbikes and mopeds are exempt from the trial traffic filters.
This is due to safety concerns about speed-limited mopeds using the ring road and A34
Can electric cars drive through the trial traffic filters?
No. Private cars are not allowed through the filters unless they have a permit – even if they are electric. This is to ensure traffic filters deliver the desired traffic reduction and associated benefits.
Will the traffic filters impact emergency vehicles?
Emergency vehicles are exempt from the trial traffic filters. As traffic filters are expected to reduce congestion, emergency services should benefit overall as journeys across the city become quicker and more reliable.
How have you chosen the locations for the traffic filters?
The locations of the traffic filters have been informed by transport modelling, traffic data analysis and highway design considerations. Traffic filter locations are designed to reduce traffic across the city and not just at the point where the traffic filter is located. The locations have been strategically chosen, so that a traffic filter in one location may also lead to greater traffic reduction in other areas across the city.
For example, the traffic filter on Thames Street is not primarily aimed at reducing traffic on Thames Street (which has no buses); it is designed to reduce traffic on Abingdon Road and Botley Road.
How have you decided the boundaries of the residential permit areas and number of permitted days?
Permits for residents were added to the scheme following feedback in several public consultations. The Oxford permit area is designed to include the areas most affected by the route changes required to avoid the traffic filters, which is why 100 day passes per year are provided in this area.
Residents in the Oxfordshire permit area may be less affected by the filters, so a smaller number of pass days (25 per year) is provided.
Trips coming from outside Oxfordshire will not generally be significantly affected, as any route changes required to avoid the filters are a small proportion of the overall journey.
If I don’t use all my residents’ permit day passes in a year, will they carry on to the following year?
No. Day passes from residents’ permit will not carry over if not used within the 12 months the permit is valid.
Does a day pass last till midnight on the day used or until 24 hours after it was activated?
A day pass is for one calendar day, from midnight to midnight.
I don’t own a car but occasionally hire one. Will I be able to get a permit for a hire car?
No, we are unable to give permits for short term hire cars. However, everywhere in Oxford is accessible by car even without a permit. Car club cars are eligible for a permit.
Why are vans and heavy goods vehicles (HGV) exempt?
This exemption has been provided for several reasons:
We will continue to develop plans to minimise the need for large vehicles to deliver in the city, for example freight consolidation schemes.
What if vehicles need to turn at the traffic filters?
All the traffic filters are signed clearly in advance in line with government regulations. We expect only a small amount of traffic will need to turn around (i.e. those who have missed the advance signage). Since the traffic filters only restrict cars, large vehicles will not need to turn around at the filter points.
The locations have been chosen carefully to ensure that any vehicles that do need to turn around can do so safely, in many cases by making a turn into a side road rather than turning in the road.
If there is an incident on the ring road, will you open a traffic filter to all traffic through to mitigate the impact?
Decisions about suspending traffic filters will be made by the Network Management team at Oxfordshire County Council. Filters will only be suspended in exceptional circumstances. Conditions where a filter may be suspended are:
In all cases where a filter is suspended, all practicable steps will be taken to mitigate any negative impacts on residents or businesses.
The traffic filters are a trial, and we will be monitoring the scheme’s impacts carefully in partnership with National Highways, including the impact of incidents on the ring road or A34 occurring during the trial.
What are the expected impacts?
The development and assessment of the traffic filters has been supported by a range of modelling and analysis. Based on this, we expect that traffic filters will:
What is the difference between traffic filters and bus gates?
Traffic filters are designed to reduce car traffic on key roads right across the city, to make bus journeys faster and make walking and cycling safer and more attractive while also still allowing access through the filters for many other road users.
Bus gates are designed to remove nearly all traffic except buses and are not located on major traffic routes. Bus gates generally only allow local buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, and emergency services.
Is there enough space on buses and at park and rides?
Monitoring of the park and ride capacity during the temporary congestion charge indicates that there is sufficient capacity at the park and ride sites.
Over the course of the temporary congestion charge scheme, only Redbridge Park and Ride was occasionally at capacity. When this happens, variable message signs (VMS) on routes to Oxford will advise drivers.
What will any income from the trial be spent on?
The objective of the scheme is not to raise income. Private cars need a permit to drive through a filter when the filters are operating. Cars without a valid permit driving through the filters will receive a fine of £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days).
Any income generated by the scheme during the trial would be ring-fenced to cover the costs of introducing and operating the scheme. Should the trial be successful, and the scheme made permanent, then the income from 2025/26 onwards would generate further surplus. This surplus could be used as a contribution towards any future mitigating measures or post-trial costs.
How will you monitor the trial?
A detailed monitoring and evaluation plan has been developed for the trial. It includes:
Do you have a specific data-driven target or threshold for the success or failure of the trial?
The council has not set specific thresholds for success or failure because:
Monitoring data is therefore only one of several factors the council will consider in making its decisions.
What consultation has happened already?
The decision to implement the trial was made by the council’s cabinet on 29 November 2022 and followed engagement with more than 100 local businesses, organisations and community groups, including bus companies, hospitals, schools and universities.
A public consultation was open between 5 September and 13 October 2022 and received 4,814 responses.
What changes have been made to the proposals in response to consultation feedback?
We have been listening to stakeholders and residents since traffic filters were first included in council policy in 2015. The consultation in 2022 and engagement with residents, businesses and other interested parties has resulted in several changes to the scheme we are now trialling. We have: