New driving law plans have been drawn up by the West Midland Combined Authority (WMCA) to meet their target of zero carbon greenhouse gas emissions by 2041. The proposals issue a range of advice for reducing pollution among vehicles such as the introduction of extra Clean Air Zone charging areas and scrappage schemes.
The proposals also outline radical plans to eliminate car ownership in several areas by 2041.
The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) have attacked the new proposals, warning schemes have been planned behind closed doors for decades.
They warned new restrictions would make “driving into a chore” despite not being popular among road users.
Spokesman Nigel Humphries said: “At last the truth is out. This has been the plan behind closed doors since the 1990s, but it’s never been clearly and publicly stated before.
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“This is for the simple reason that when it is, up to 97 percent of people reject it.
“It is vital that the public hear and understand these proposals, so they do not allow themselves to be sleepwalked into having their freedom of movement and economic potential taken away from them.”
“For the last 30 years, all levels of Government have been manipulated into participating in the process of softening up the motorist to accept the inevitability of these draconian measures.
“Restriction after restriction has been brought in, always with an apparent excuse, but in reality with the object of making driving into a chore, and to brainwash people into accepting further restrictions.”
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The WMCA plans say within the first five years extra Clean Air Zones will look to be installed across the region.
The report said they would learn from current development work on the Birmingham Clean Air Zone to collaborate a plan for how new schemes could be fitted.
Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone has been postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak but will see charges issued to some drivers using roads in the city centre.
Sheffield will also introduce a Clean Air Zone in early 2021 after the proposals were backed by Sheffield City Council.
Space will also be allocated away from solo occupancy cars towards walking, cycling and mass transit systems.
The government has committed to consulting on ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035 or earlier.
They have also opened up bids for a further £10million worth of funding for research and development in the automotive sector.
The government says this will help companies take their ideas from prototype to market.
This may include more efficient electric motors for cars to use or more powerful batteries.