Apparently, the Tory government is ending the ‘war on motorists’.

This is interesting. I’m a motorist but I didn’t realise I was in a war so my question is: exactly who has been waging this war?

The last time I looked, there is only one organisation capable of launching an all-out campaign against us motorists and that’s the government.

You know the one I mean, that Tory government that’s been in power for more than 13 years.

So as far as I can see, prime minister Rishi Sunak is effectively dissing his own party’s policies while try to blame everyone else.

So exactly what are his proposals as he declares an armistice on the beleaguered and under-fire drivers?

Well, he’s going to review guidance on 20mph speed limits in England; amend guidance on so-called Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs); stop councils implementing ‘15-minute cities’, where essential amenities are always within a 15-minute walk; seek to reduce the hours where cars are banned from bus lanes; target ‘overzealous’ enforcement of parking; and consult on extending fines for disruptive street repairs which run into weekends.

Undoubtedly he sees a political advantage in these measures but is relying on people forgetting that councils only introduced LTNs with the explicit encouragement and financial backing of his government.

Of course car driving suddenly found its way on to Sunak’s radar after the Uxbridge and Ruislip South by-election which the Tories narrowly won after it became something of a referendum on the extension of the London Ultra-low Emissions Zone to the outer boroughs.

And then we had the Labour-controlled Welsh government changing most 30mph speed limits in Wales to 20mph. The speed limit has changed on residential and busy pedestrian streets to ‘make the streets safer, reduce the number of people killed or injured and reduce the impact on emergency services and the NHS’.

Now it just so happens these plans were backed by Welsh Tories but it hasn’t stopped the chauffeur-driven, helicopter-using, private jet-taking Sunak from jumping on what he sees as a passing bandwagon to proclaim himself the motorists’ champion.

Apparently, another one of his schemes is to use money saved from scrapping HS2 to fill in potholes. Heaven help us.

For the sake of balance, I did a little research into the pros and cons around 20mph zones.

One of the primary benefits of 20mph speed limits is the improved road safety they offer. Lower speeds reduce the severity of accidents and provide drivers with more time to react, potentially saving lives, especially in densely populated urban areas and around schools.

As the road safety charity Brake says: “A vehicle travelling at 20mph would stop in time to avoid a child running out three car-lengths in front.

"The same vehicle travelling at 25mph would not be able to stop in time, and would hit the child at 18mph. This is roughly the same impact as a child falling from an upstairs window.

“The greater the impact speed, the greater the chance of death. A pedestrian hit at 30mph has a very significant (one in five) chance of being killed.”

Slower speeds also create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. Crossing roads becomes less perilous, encouraging more people to walk or cycle, promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing the carbon footprint.

Lower speeds can lead to reduced emissions, contributing to improved air quality. Slower driving means engines operate more efficiently, releasing fewer pollutants into the atmosphere, which is crucial in the fight against climate change.

And one of my favourites that I can attest is true, contrary to popular belief, lower speed limits can improve traffic flow. By preventing sudden stops and starts, traffic becomes more predictable, reducing congestion and promoting a smoother driving experience.

But I am also prepared to accept there can be disadvantages. While 20mph limits work well on residential streets, their effectiveness on larger roads, especially those designed for higher speeds, is not so clear cut and enforcing 20mph speed limits can be a challenge, especially in areas with limited police resources.

And I’m also prepared to listen to the argument that lower speed limits could hinder emergency services response times, potentially jeopardising lives in critical situations.

Now this whole 20mph thing got me thinking until it dawned on me my whole estate is a 20mph zone and has been for more years than I care to remember.

Were there any protests when it was made 20mph? No. Has it caused any issues? No. Has it made my journeys take longer? No. Has it made my street safer for pedestrians? Yes.