Labour has promised to support drivers through the cost of living as drivers struggle to deal with the rising cost of motoring.
Millions of drivers will be driving home for Christmas this week, with many dealing with the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The cost of motoring has also been a huge issue for drivers, paying upwards of £1,000 to stay on the road with car insurance, expensive petrol and diesel prices and car tax.
The Labour Party has now announced that it will look to crack down on car insurance costs, improve public transport options and remove planning barriers to upgrade transport networks.
Labour has vowed to support drivers with cuts to car insurance and journey times
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Labour claims these changes could save drivers up to £668 a year in lower running costs, as well as cutting journey times by reducing traffic on the road network.
The latest consumer price inflation data from the Office for National Statistics show that car insurance costs have risen by 51 per cent between October 2022 and October 2023.
Data from Confused.com shows that car insurance prices have reached their highest level on record, with drivers paying an average of £924 for their coverage.
Drivers who are 18 years old are being charged the most expensive costs, with average premiums setting them back a staggering £2,995.
The shadow minister for transport Louise Haigh vowed that Labour would also “boost the (electric vehicle) charge point rollout”.
According to the latest data, there are more than 53,000 charging devices around the UK with the Government aiming to hit 300,000 chargers by the end of the decade.
The MP for Sheffield Heeley also slammed the Conservatives following the announcement that rail fare prices would rise by 4.9 per cent in March.
Louise Haigh continued, saying: “Whilst the cost-of-living crisis has continued to hammer drivers up and down the country and the state of our infrastructure worsens by the day, the Conservatives have sat back and done nothing.
“Car insurance costs have soared, our crumbling roads are in a sorry state and traffic remains a nightmare.
“Labour will take action on unfair car insurance costs, remove barriers so infrastructure improvements are actually delivered, reduce the traffic clogging up our roads and boost the charge point rollout.”
In recent months, the Conservatives have taken a pro-driver approach, with Transport Secretary Mark Harper publicly backing Britons and slamming anti-motorist policies.
As part of this, the Government unveiled the “Plan for Drivers” which was designed to prevent motorists from “feeling under attack”.
Harper took specific aim at 15-minute cities, low traffic neighbourhoods, 20mph speed limits and overzealous councils targeting traffic offences.
Speaking about the plans, the MP for the Forest of Dean said: “The easy political choice is to vilify the private car even when it’s been one of the most powerful forces for personal freedom and economic growth in the last century.
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The Conservatives took aim at low traffic neighbourhoods
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“Used appropriately and considerately, the car was, is, and will remain a force for good. It is not right that some drivers feel under attack.”
