The RAC has written to all the major UK political party leaders
urging them to remember the key issues that matter most to
private and business road users when drafting their party
manifestos ahead of the General Election on 8 June.
The RAC’s Motoring
Manifesto details the six top issues which
motorists have identified* as among their biggest concerns
covering roads policy, motoring taxation and driving in the UK.
The majority are already being addressed to some extent by the
outgoing Government but the RAC is concerned that they could be
diluted or parked for good in the rush to draw up party election
manifestos.
The RAC’s six-point plan calls for:
- · A
promise not to raise fuel
duty or Insurance
Premium Tax for the duration
of the next Parliament
-
· An air
quality plan that is both fair to motorists and
delivers much-needed improvement to those areas with the poorest
air quality
-
· Continued
investment in England’s strategic road network –
motorways and major A-roads
– beyond 2020, funded
by Vehicle Excise Duty
-
· Publication
of a long-term investment plan and ring-fenced funding to bring
our local roads up to a state that is
fit for purpose
- · Action
to reduce spurious whiplash claims and a reform of the personal
injury Discount Rates to bring the rising cost
of insurance premiums back under
control
- · A
commitment to introduce better regulation of the largely
unregulated private parking sector
RAC chief executive officer Dave Hobday said: “The next five
weeks are going to be frantic as the parties finalise and
communicate their policies and debate the merits of a hard or
soft Brexit whilst thousands of candidates are on the campaign
trail. We want to ensure that in the midst of all the rhetoric,
the key issues for UK motorists are not discarded or forgotten –
hence us publishing our 2017 Motoring Manifesto.
“There is clearly much at stake and many issues to debate but
there has been some good progress in recent years in addressing
some of the most important issues for both private motorists and
businesses. We want to ensure that these advances aren’t lost and
that we have a clear commitment from the next government to
maintain and increase investment in our roads infrastructure,
tackle air quality and unjust parking practices, and encourage
drivers to take-up of ultra-low emission vehicles.
“We believe it is also vital with motoring taxation at record
levels that there should be a commitment not to increase fuel
duty or Insurance Premium Tax for the duration of the next
Parliament, as these hit motorists hard and could stifle economic
growth.”
“Politicians would do well to listen to the UK’s 38 million
motorists, who each year contribute around £40bn to the
Exchequer. For them driving and using our roads is an integral
and essential part of their lives and also those who rely on road
transport even if they are not motorists themselves.”
The value of motoring and road transport to the economy cannot be
underestimated. The link between jobs and road transport is
indisputable with 75% of journeys to work across the UK
undertaken by bus or car and 76% of all freight moved by road. In
addition, 77% of motorists tell us that they would find it very
difficult to adjust their lifestyle to being without a car.
Ends
* The RAC’s Report on
Motoring is an annual study, now in its
28th year, which identifies the key concerns of
UK motorists.
