The Conservative party has unveiled a 30-point plan to make life easier for drivers in the UK.

A key part of this plan is to counter “anti-driver” policies that promote active travel and enhance road safety. The party specifically highlighted the implementation of low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and the enforcement of reduced speed limits, such as Wales’ new 20mph speed limit in residential areas, as examples of such policies.

The government intends to update guidance for 20mph zones and LTNs, with a focus on introducing them only where there is local support.

Furthermore, the Conservatives have vowed to ensure fines for traffic offences, like inappropriate use of yellow box junctions, are fairer and prevent local authorities from profiting from enforcement.

Local authorities will also be prevented from introducing the concept of “15-minute cities,” which aim to provide all necessary amenities within a 15-minute walking radius of city residents.

Although no council currently operates a 15-minute city, several, including Bristol, Birmingham, and Oxford, have expressed intentions to implement this policy in the future.

The government’s plan suggests that 15-minute cities could eventually lead to excessive traffic restrictions and car use permits. To prevent this, local authorities pursuing such measures will be denied access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data.

As part of the “smoother driving” initiative, the government has also committed to reducing the failure rate of road infrastructure and minimizing repair downtime. It will invest £70 million to improve traffic lights, dedicating £30 million to enhance their reliability, £20 million to improve their responsiveness to road conditions, and £20 million to explore the use of artificial intelligence for managing traffic flow in city centres.