Tories promise to be motorists' "friend"

Tuesday, 17 August 2004 12:00 AM

In their latest strand of summer policy announcements, the Conservatives have pledged to be "the intelligent friend of the safe and sensible driver."

Previously, the Conservatives have pledged to "end the war on motorists", review all speed limits, audit the location of every speed camera and make speed limit signs clearer.

New policies announced today by the Shadow Transport Secretary, Damian Green, include restricting the powers of traffic wardens, allowing cars with passengers to drive in bus lanes, and requiring the emergency services to formally approve any new traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps.

Mr Green said: "We recognise that for tens of millions of people driving a car is a necessity, and should not be made a misery by Government policy. We will be the intelligent friend of the safe and sensible driver."

To reduce congestion on urban roads, the Conservatives would promote car sharing schemes and allow vehicles with two or more adult passengers to use bus lanes. Children would not count as passengers so as not to increase congestion in the school run period.

Those drivers using bus lanes with too few passengers would face £60 fines and there would be penalty points for repeat offenders.

Currently, bus lanes are only used by buses, and in some places taxis, during peak traffic hours as a way of speeding up the flow of public transport. In London in particular they have reduced the average time of bus journeys and are partly credited with the rise in bus usage.

On traffic wardens, the Conservatives have said they would restrict them to parking infringements and stop them being turned into "pseudo police officers" with the power to punish minor motoring offences. They argue that "bad or illegal driving should be assessed in light of the individual circumstances by trained police officers, not traffic wardens trying to meet targets."

Mr Green also promised to control the work of wheel clampers through a formal code of conduct that would be monitored by the police.

Claiming that traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, can dangerously slow down emergency vehicles, the Conservatives are promising that local authorities would be required to formally consult with emergency services before introducing any new measures.

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