While grace periods are in place, enforcement is set to begin shortly.

Low-emission zones (LEZs) in four Scottish cities are now live after launching on Tuesday. 

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee are introducing LEZs in order to improve air quality, with many older vehicles banned from city centres.

Grace periods are now in place for the four cities, with enforcement due to begin on different dates.

National shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) is planning community consultations in areas of multiple deprivation in each low-emission zone.

Recent research by CoMoUK found 37,993 people were part of pay-per-drive car clubs in Scotland in 2021, up 24 per cent on the previous year.

Around a quarter of respondents said that saving money was a reason for joining the car club and 73 per cent agreed that car club membership saves them money compared to owning a car.

Rachael Murphy, Scotland director of Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), said: “Scotland’s low emission zones offer an opportunity to radically change our city centres and reduce our reliance on the private car. 

“There is, however, a risk that communities impacted by transport poverty due to a lack of affordable, accessible public and shared transport options will struggle to part from the private car, whatever penalty might be applied. 

“Ultimately, if we want to meet environmental targets and improve air quality, we need to move away from private car ownership – and that requires making shared transport options such as car clubs and bike share readily accessible for people.

“Amid a cost-of-living crisis, motorists can also save thousands of pounds a year by not owning a car, as well as engaging in a more active lifestyle through walking and cycling.”