It’s party conference time, and politicians will be after our votes. Some respect for millions of drivers is overdue.

We’ve contributed more than £400 billion to public funds since 1997, but haven’t had the service we’ve paid for.

Laws are now so complicated that official bodies have to refund millions for improperly-levied motoring fines and parking penalties – yet new government rules will land heavy costs on many innocent drivers who successfully challenge prosecutions that should never have been brought.

‘Trial by camera’ is error-prone, and overlooks the fact that most accidents are not caused by speed. Instead, we need more police patrols who can catch drunk and drugged drivers.

Instead of wasting millions on developing unpopular road-pricing schemes, the next government should make best use of existing road space, and stop the gratuitous removal of road space by different authorities.

Increasing congestion doesn’t help anyone, nor does driver fatigue through longer journey times.

The government should resist the temptation to reduce safe speed limits on main roads and repair deteriorating roads before they cause accidents.

Cash-strapped authorities should look to improve safety most cost-effectively by engineering out hazards and the ongoing education of road users.

BRIAN GREGORY, chairman, Association of British Drivers