The new year sees more pain at the pumps for drivers, with rises in fuel duty and VAT adding around 4p to the cost of a litre of petrol or diesel.

But these increases don’t just hurt the driver and our hard-pressed haulage industry, they produce price rises at the shops for everyone.

Before the General Election, David Cameron complained about how the previous government had hammered drivers with various taxes.

He added that he had to do things very differently and make life easier for families facing sky-high motoring bills. He even indicated that he could help families by cutting fuel taxes when global fuel prices rise.

It is time to take Mr Cameron at his word. The Association of British Drivers calls on the government to scrap above-inflation fuel duty rises set for the next three years, and also plans for road pricing for lorries.

I urge readers to contact their MP at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA or via www.parliament.uk. – Brian Macdowall, Campaign Director, Association of British Drivers, PO Box 2228, Croydon, CR8 5ZT