• Introduction
• The Government's Agenda
• Preserving freedom of choice and driving enjoyment
• The Formal Objectives of the Association
• The Main Points

“...Unfortunately, these freedoms, which we have taken for granted for so long, are now under threat from a barrage of anti-motorist measures, the like of which has never been seen in peacetime since the repeal of the Red Flag...” Act.

Introduction

The motorist in the UK is under attack from all sides:

• you are heavily taxed and they want more from motorway tolls;
• you are accused of polluting the environment;
• you're told you are a constant menace to public safety;
• you can be fined and even banned — for driving perfectly safely;
• your roads are said to be covering the countryside in tarmac.

Yet the supposed problems you cause are based either on gross exaggeration or in some cases deliberate misrepresentation of the facts.

The Government's Agenda

Influenced by extremist pressure groups, the media and, above all, by its desire to hide the true rate of taxation from the public by raising stealth taxes from every available source, the Government is targeting motorists.

All of the following are either in the pipeline or under serious consideration:-

• Petrol price increases
  These may have been put on hold because of public protests, but the extortionate tax on fuel has not been reduced.
  
• Motorway tolls.
  Britain's first toll motorway is now operating north of Birmingham.
  
• 'Congestion charging'.
  Ken Livingstone's £5 charge to enter London may be adopted by other cities.
  
• Urban road pricing.
• Workplace parking tax.
• Higher road tax, based on lies about 'Global Warming'.
• Restricted access to national parks.
• Restricted access to urban areas.
• Severely restricting parking on all new developments.
• Creating congestion by closing roads, and deliberating mis-timing traffic lights.
• Obstructing the public highway with 'traffic calming' measures and speed humps.
• Home zones with 10mph speed limits and obstructions all over the road.
• Arbitrary law enforcement with the primary aim of raising revenue and discouraging driving.
• Abusing technology to take control of your car away from you.

"People may not always be able to make journeys as easily or as cheaply as before"
Prime Minister John Major, 1994

Preserving freedom of choice and driving enjoyment

There are about 32 million driving licence holders in this country, that's a massive majority of the voting population, yet transport policy appears to be entirely guided by a small but vociferous minority.

There are over 22 million cars. Most people aspire to owning a car, and buy one as soon as they can afford one.

Some just appreciate the extra mobility that only a car provides. The ability to go wherever you like whenever you like is a freedom to be prized.

For others, driving a car means much more — that driving should also be enjoyed. Driving down a clear open road at dawn with the sun coming up behind you is surely one of life's greatest pleasures.

The choice of the word "Driver" in our title as opposed to "Motorist" was a deliberate one.

We are not against good public transport, or cyclists, or pedestrians; indeed, all ABD members come into one or more of the aforementioned categories at some time. We deplore the lack of investment in proper, modern transport infrastructure, however, we object strongly when measures to "improve" such means of travel are used as a weapon against drivers, such as:

• Bus lanes used to turn perfectly good dual carriageways into single track roads with no passing places.
• Cycle lanes used to narrow roads.
• Dangerous advance stop lines for cyclists.
• The replacement of Pelican crossings with Toucan crossings which force drivers to wait after pedestrians have crossed.
• Pelican crossings set to stay on red to drivers for an unnecessary length of time.
• Pelican crossings set to go back to red within a few seconds of going green.

The Main Points

Members of the ABD firmly believe that:

• It is the right of the individual to decide whether to travel by private car or by another means of transport,
  it is not the job of Government or others to restrict that choice.
• Car ownership should be affordable to all levels of society — rich and poor.
  Car ownership rates in the UK remain low by international standards.

Unfortunately, these freedoms, which we have taken for granted for so long, are now under threat from a barrage of anti-motorist measures, the like of which has never been seen in peacetime since the repeal of the Red Flag Act.

Most of the media have become so unthinkingly hostile towards the motorcar that they seem largely incapable of providing balanced reporting, and much of what is written seems rooted more in ideological prejudice than rational argument.

We believe that the great majority of drivers share our views, but, until now, there has been no coherent voice to put the case in favour of the motor-car.

The established motoring organisations play a vital but different role, and we believe that the ABD is unique in Great Britain in the way it presents drivers views.

If you enjoy driving your car, and are no longer content to sit back whilst your rights are taken away one by one,

Now is the time to have your voice heard — Join the ABD

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