TORIES DECLARE WAR ON DRIVERS IS OVER

THE Tories have vowed to end the war on motorists by tearing up draconian rules that target ordinary drivers

- Sam Lister

Councils will be stopped from treating motorists as cash cows through over-zealous enforcement of minor offences.

Revealing a package of measures ahead of his keynote speech to the Tory party conference on Monday, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he would halt the anti-car campaign of a metropolitan elite.

The Cabinet minister also vowed he will not give in to militant unions even if it means rail strikes continue to the general election, as a "politically motivated" walkout brings the network to a halt again today. 

Mr Harper told the Daily Express he will protect the public's freedom to use their cars and declared: "We are the party of the driver.

"We're taking action to end the punitive measures that unfairly target ordinary drivers." Changes will prevent blanket 20mph zones in England and it will be easier to challenge major road restrictions.

A review will look at stopping councils generating excessive profits from traffic offences and zealous enforcement such as at yellow box junctions.

Bus lanes will be enforced only when there is enough demand and low-traffic neighbourhoods that lack sufficient support may be reviewed.

Mr Harper said: "It's a plan for drivers and setting out a proper structure to say we recognise for most people the car is really important.

"It's a big part of people's freedom and independence and getting to work and how they live their lives. We want to make sure that people have got proper choices about how they travel.