Government plans new panels to assess claimants, and will freeze MOT charges and trial petrol price signs on motorways
The government is launching a campaign to bring down the cost of driving by displaying petrol prices on motorway signs, freezing the cost of MOTs and cracking down on bogus whiplash claims that push up insurance premiums.
Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, is unveiling a range of measures as the coalition comes under pressure to tackle the cost of living following Labour's promise to freeze gas and electricity prices.
He will claim the government's efforts to stop whiplash insurance fraud have already brought down the price of car insurance by £80. In an effort to reduce premiums further, new independent medical panels will assess each claimant from next year, Grayling said.
The government also plans to freeze the maximum price of an MOT for a car at £54.85 until the next election, and it will review the fees relating to driving tests, currently £31 for theory tests, £62 for practical tests and £50 to obtain a provisional licence.
"It's not right that people who cheat the insurance system get away with it while forcing up the price for everyone else, so we are going after whiplash fraudsters and will keep on driving premiums down," the justice secretary said.
The government said statistics from the AA showed that insurance premiums had fallen by 12% in the last year, after new controls were imposed on fees charged by lawyers in personal injury cases.
Robert Goodwill, the roads minister, said: "The costs of owning and running a car are felt by millions of households and businesses across the nation. The government is determined to help keep those costs down. That is why we are freezing the price for an MOT test and looking again at the costs associated with getting a driving licence.
"We also want to make it easier for people to get a better deal on fuel at motorway service stations, for instance through a trial of motorway signs that will show motorists the different fuel prices on offer on their route."
The House of Commons transport committee has raised concerns that local authorities are unfairly punishing motorists by increasing parking charges. Louise Ellman, chair of the committee, called for councils to be more transparent about how they use the revenues, saying there was a "deep-rooted public perception that parking enforcement is used as a cash cow".
Mary Creagh, the shadow transport secretary, said the report demanded a "serious response from ministers who should stop thinking up new ways to hit hard pressed motorists in the pocket".
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