The Drivers' Alliance is teaming up with the Motorists Legal Challenge Fund and the London Motorists Action Group to help create a level playingfield for britain's motorists

If someone told you it could cost up to £60,000 to challenge a £60 parking ticket, you'd most likely think they were joking. But if you really believe that your ticket is unlawful and the Council refuses to cancel it, then you lose at appeal, where can you go next?

The answer is that the only next stop is the High Court, and you are looking at a five or six figure sum! Access to the legal system for the proverbial "man on the Clapham Omnibus" or the ordinary motorist has become prohibitive.

This lack of "equality of arms" has meant that there are effectively no checks and balances on the parking industry, so so councils and private contractors have been able to operate outside the law, with impunity, for many years now.

Many councils are cavalier and recklessly indifferent to their legal responsibilities and this attitude has led to a complete breakdown in respect by the motoring public.The media has been full of stories about parking and traffic enforcement showing that motorists are fed up with being relentlessly exploited. There is no watchdog or Ombudsman looking after the motorists' interests, so it is down to some individual or group of individuals to take on the challenge.

The Motorists Legal Challenge Fund has been created to help support those individuals and groups, to ensure that justice is seen to be done in the most high profile and public way.

By rights justice ought not come with a large price tag attached. By standing up to the ‘parking industry’ we will eventually force change through the will of ordinary people.

EVERY SINGLE MOTORIST WILL BENEFIT

It is open to speculation that the parking "Industry" thought it was safe and that nobody would have the guts (or resources) to mount serious legal challenge. They certainly have the money (mostly taken from us) to mount a defence.However, currently two men, Neil Herron and Glenn Dickinson, at great personal risk, have been granted permission for a full High Court hearing and they need your support.

The Motorists Legal Challenge does not intend to stop with a couple of cases We intend to create a substantial fighting fund to allow David to take on Goliath and we will select worthy cases which can create legal and binding precedents as well as exposing unlawful practices. We intend to put an end to the threat by the authorities of using costs as a weapon.It is in every motorist’s interest to support Neil’s and Glenn's efforts by contributing to a fighting fund that will create a truly level playing field in the future.

The councils have the money, and if you donate to the fund we will have the money - then it will be all fair and square. Equality of Arms will become a reality and we will help bring to an end the 'arrogance of office' by council officials who will be reminded that they are there to serve the public and not to abuse their power.

Visit the website of The Motorists Legal Challenge Fund
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Why should we remove traffic lights? Because they cause congestion thats why.



This short video shows the mindset of government.



This is the best argument yet to remove traffic lights and replace them with roundabouts wherever possible.



We can now embed video into the website. If you have a video which would be of interest to drivers' and would like to show it here, please send it to us at video@driversalliance.org.uk.
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The Drivers' Alliance began in July 2008 to oppose road pricing and congestion charging which was shown to be deeply unpopular in 2007 when 1.81 Million people signed an online petition against road pricing on the Downing Street website.

Whilst congestion charges and road pricing remain an issue, there are other threats to the freedom to drive a car. 'Demand management' through Workplace Parking Levy's, restricted parking provision, congestion caused by traffic light controlled junctions and a lack of road building targets drivers.

In the UK, motoring related taxes come to about £50 Billion a year but only 12% of this is spent on our roads. This is not enough to provide the capacity needed to reduce congestion and with it, emissions.

It is a political decision where this money is spent but drivers in the UK pay enough tax to have the best roads in the world. Much of the money raised from motorists is spent elsewhere and is often wasted - see HERE

We need investment in roads as well as trains and buses.

It is not fair to drive people out of their cars through higher taxation, ever more stringent enforcement of minor traffic offences, deliberately caused congestion and limiting parking provision.

Road pricing continues to be a threat and congestion charges are still being proposed in some of our cities. The reasons given for these policies is to reduce congestion; but traffic volumes have been falling for many years in urban areas and most of today's congestion is caused by changes to the roads with space being taken for bus lanes and traffic lights halting the free flow of vehicles without justification.

Don't let them tax you out of your car.
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We are a small organisation and our resources are stretched. We’re fighting some big, expensive fights -- for example, supporting local campaigners, lobbying ministers and commissioning important research all cost a lot. But the cost of doing nothing is too great so we must continue.

Your donation today would help keep your freedom to drive a car.

It's easier to get around with a car. 

Don't let them tax you onto public transport.
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