Motorists ‘should stand up for their rights’ – ABD

The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) has issued a call to arms for all drivers, saying it is celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta with a 21st century mobility charter.

This summer, millions of Britain’s drivers will likely crawl to their holidays on a crumbling road network, congested with road works, the Alliance argues. Yet according to a survey carried out for the ABD last year, some two-thirds of drivers are unaware that they pay roughly five times over for the service they get.

ABD director Ian Taylor said: “We have been promised more than once by politicians that the ‘War on the Motorist’ would be ended. That has been something of a false promise: at every turn measures continue to be promoted that can only be described as “anti-car”. Government at all levels seem sold on the idea that meaningful individual personal mobility must be discouraged – a policy instead of getting people out of cars and onto bikes or public transport or their feet at all costs, and sometimes by coercive means. Britain’s drivers deserve better from our public servants.

“Last year The ABD teamed up with the National Motorist’s Action Group (NMAG) and produced a Motorists’ Charter. This puts forward some reasonable, well-researched demands, such as getting the roads we’ve paid for, adequate parking facilities at a reasonable price and generally fairer, dare I say less discriminatory, treatment for drivers. It was originally produced for the run-up to the election, but motoring issues were largely by-passed yet again by the major parties so we considered the anniversary of Magna Carta an appropriate time to remind people about it. Charters have long been a way to bring forward matters of public concern, especially by groups that that consider themselves ignored much of the time.

“The problems with Britain’s underfunded roads won’t go away – neither will around 30 million drivers (who have votes). I urge drivers to read it, download it, and use it as a lobbying tool.”

The Motorists’ Charter may be downloaded here.