THE Conservatives said yesterday that they would allow car drivers to use bus lanes as long as they were carrying at least one adult passenger.

As part of their new driver-friendly transport policy, the Conservatives want to introduce an incentive to car-pooling that is common in American states.

Last month the Government also announced that a small pilot of such a system would begin next year, to be run by the Highways Agency, using road cameras to enforce it in the same way as speed cameras.

Motoring organisations gave the proposal only a cautious welcome, saying that it would help only particular drivers, and environmental groups were worried that it would encourage more traffic on the roads.

Conservatives also pledged to control wheel-clampers, some of whom they accused of “running wild”.

If returned to power they promised to force all clampers to sign a formal code of conduct to prevent illegal clamping, which, they said, Labour had failed to stop. They also promised to force local councils to obtain the full approval of the emergency services before speed bumps were installed, and to strip traffic wardens of their powers to prosecute drivers for motoring offences.

These moves were all designed to rid the motorist of everyday traffic irritations, said Damian Green, the Shadow Transport Secretary.

“We recognise that, for tens of millions of people, driving a car is a necessity and should not be made a misery by government policy,” Mr Green said. “We will be the intelligent friend of the safe and sensible driver.”

Kim Howells, the Transport Minister, said: “Yet again, the Tories are trying to jump on the nearest populist bandwagon. Many of the measures suggested are already being implemented or have been ruled out at a local level as unworkable. Indeed, some of these proposals would make congestion worse,” he said.

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