Gridlock: Worse under Labour?

Motorists believe that driving in Britain has got worse under a Labour government.

Only five per cent of respondents to an RAC survey released on Monday felt that conditions on the roads had improved since 1997.

Some 55 per cent complained that conditions had declined and that running a car has become more restrictive, with initiatives such as speed cameras having little or no effect.

And 72 per cent felt that cameras have no positive impact on reducing accidents, while 78 per cent felt the same about speed bumps.

The government maintains that all these devices are designed to save lives, although the RAC is calling for a street-by-street review.

Motorists in London were the most unhappy with Labour mayor Ken Livingstone's congestion charge.

In the capital, 61 per cent of car owners claimed that driving conditions have got worse since 1997.

But ministers are committed in Labour's election manifesto to investigating a national road pricing scheme.

Tory view

Shadow transport secretary Tim Yeo said the Conservatives would meet motorists demands.

"Mr Blair's government pledged to reduce congestion by five per cent by 2010 but this was all talk," he said.

"Instead, congestion has risen and road conditions have deteriorated. There is also the suspicion that speed cameras are not saving lives but boosting revenue for safety camera partnerships.

"The Conservative Party is determined to end Labour's war on the sensible motorist and ease congestion on our roads.

"We will establish a congestion relief fund, from which local authorities will bid for money for local schemes and construct extra road space at key congestion hot-spots. We will look to build new roads with private sector help.

"Only traffic police can catch the most dangerous drivers. By recruiting 5,000 more police, each year, we will make it possible for chief constables to restore the number of traffic police to the level we left behind in 1997. We will abolish the safety camera partnerships and review every speed camera and speed limit to encourage confidence in speed limits."