Driving law changes could see 20mph roads axed and fuel prices cut under new Tory plans

Felix Reeves
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:54:48 +0000

The Conservative Party has outlined its motoring plans if it returns to Government, including ending 20mph speed limit schemes, scrapping the 2030 petrol and diesel car ban, and tackling the scourge of potholes.

Party leader Kemi Badenoch has confirmed its Plan for Drivers, which will include an overhaul of existing motoring rules.

One of the key policy areas included an end to "blanket" 20mph speed limit schemes, which have sparked controversy in recent years.

The Conservatives claimed that 20mph zones have been imposed by "Labour and their councils", adding that there is "no meaningful evidence base".

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Wales was the first country in the UK to impose a nationwide 20mph speed limit on restricted and residential roads in 2023, although these plans were later rolled back.

Demand has increased for local authorities to install 20mph zones in areas where lower speeds are deemed to be more appropriate.

This often refers to roads near schools, hospitals, care homes and in newly-built residential areas.

Scotland recently confirmed that it would roll out 20mph zones nationwide on appropriate residential roads in the interests of boosting road safety.

The Scottish Government cited evidence from the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), which found that the average person is seven times more likely to die if they are hit by a vehicle at 30mph than at 20mph.

Despite this, the Conservatives said existing schemes would be reviewed, with 30mph limits being restored "where blanket approaches are widely ignored".

In setting out the Plan for Drivers, Kemi Badenoch said Labour viewed motorists as a "cash cow", citing fuel duty, 20mph roads and the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars.

She continued, saying: "Keir Starmer wants to make drivers' lives as difficult as possible. The Conservatives are different.

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"We understand that hardworking families and businesses need their cars, and we have a plan to ensure we get Britain moving again."

Other policies raised by the Tories included maintaining the 5p per litre fuel duty cut, which was originally introduced by the Conservative Government in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The fuel duty cut is expected to be rolled back gradually by 1p in September, 2p in December and 2p next March, at which point Labour could hike the rate in line with inflation.

The Tories would also scrap the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. This had already been rolled back by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2023.

Labour reinstated the 2030 deadline for internal combustion engine vehicles, although it will allow for the sale of new hybrid cars until 2035, when only zero emission vehicles can be sold.

A Conservative Government would also clear the DVSA's driving test backlog, arguing that it would provide up to 200,000 additional tests per year.

It would also launch a national pothole task force to deploy specialist repair units and make use of the "most effective technology on the market".

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden added: "Under Labour, you wait six months to take your test, pay through the nose at the pump, crawl through blanket 20mph zones the council never asked anyone about, then hit a pothole that writes off your suspension. Conservatives have the plan to fix it."