Motorists likely to push for Tory win as all three parties pledge to clean up roads

Labour, Liberal Dems and Conservatives launch their manifestos ahead of next month’s election

Motorists likely to push for Tory win as all three parties pledge to clean up roads
On the cards is a diesel scrappage scheme, a complete ban on the sale of diesel vehicles and a £600m investment towards zero-emission cars – but it’s this massive Tory investment that is turning heads amongst drivers. Image: Bigstock.

Research published by Servicing Stop has revealed that less than a quarter of motorists are pledging their support for Labour while not even 15 per cent are counting on a Liberal Democrat victory.

It was May’s manifesto that pledged to develop the strategic road network, provide extra lanes on motorways and improve road standards.

She also led her party in promising a massive £600m investment by 2020 to help lower fossil-fuel emissions.

Conservatives

May said: “Our ambition is for Britain to lead the world in electric vehicle technology and use.

“We want almost every car and van to be zero-emission by 2050 – and will invest £600 million by 2020 to help achieve it.

“We are leading the world in preparing for autonomous vehicles and will press ahead with our plans to use digital technology to improve our railways, so that our roads and tracks can carry more people, faster, more safely and more efficiently.”

Despite May’s emphasis on road standards, it was this exact topic that Jeremy Corbyn used to attack his opposition just days earlier.

Labour

He said: “After seven years of stalled progress, Labour will reset the UK’s road safety vision and ambitiously strive for a transport network with zero deaths, reintroducing road-safety targets, setting out bold measures that will continuously improve safety standards.”

The party promises to retrofit thousands of diesel busses in areas with the most severe air quality problems matching Euro 6 standards and pledges to reform the legislation currently governing taxi and private hire vehicles.

New national standards are also set to guarantee safety and accessibility in keeping with advanced new technology.

Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats have also jumped on the bandwagon of creating cleaner roads.

The party is in a comfortable third place in the national polls which is reflected in this survey with 13 per cent of motorists backing them.

They probably aren’t diesel drivers however as a Liberal Democrat win could spell the end for diesel drivers completely as the party pledges a diesel scrappage scheme and ban on the sale of diesel cars and small vans in the UK by the end of 2025.

The party also promises to extend ultra-low emission zones to ten more towns and cities.

We currently have one ultra-low emission zone in the capital which could prove costly on motorists driving through this area alone.

The yellow and blue manifesto which highlights air pollution as a killer in the UK leading to 40,000 premature deaths a year also mirrors the Tory manifesto by discussing electric vehicles.

It states: “We will also reform vehicle taxation to encourage sales of electric and low emission vehicles and develop electric vehicle infrastructure including universal charging points.”

Servicing Stop asked motorists if they were behind universal charging points and even specific parking bays to which 78 per cent of drivers agreed with.

The survey found the vast majority of over 1,300 motorists behind electric charging points with almost a third more highlighting the lower driver costs, another 30 per cent claiming it is better for the environment and more than a quarter backing the £4,500 government incentive to buy electric.

Labour and Conservatives have both promised to work with the Welsh government in scrapping the £6.70 toll on the Severn Bridge for the 25 million motorists travelling from England to Wales every year.

CEO and founder of Servicing Stop, Oly Richmond.

The survey found 36 per cent of Welsh motorists to be backing a Conservative win but 34 per cent of drivers are behind the Labour Party.

13 per cent of all motorists surveyed are abstaining from voting, but the largest amount of non-voters derive in Wales – almost one in five.

CEO and founder of Servicing Stop, Oly Richmond, said: “It’s not surprising to see our survey reflective of the national polls – after all driving is such an integral part of everyday life that it affects the majority of people on the electoral register.

“It’s a shame however to see a lack of motoring legislation by some parties and others opting to scrap diesel altogether, which will prove costly for many drivers.

“All parties have proposed their changes for the automotive industry and highways and I can only hope for greener days, lower running costs and more on offer for motorists across the UK.”

For further information about Servicing Stop, follow the ‘more details’ link below.

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