TRAFFIC congestion in London costs more than £10 billion a year, according to the RAC which has launched a new campaign to entice Londoners out of their cars. The average motorist spends five days and five nights sitting in congestion, according to the campaign which also has the backing of London Transport and the Association of London Government.

The campaign suggests Londoners can 'make a difference' and aims to expose the futility of being stuck in traffic. RAC head of campaigns Edmund King said: 'Congestion is costing the capital more than £10 billion a year and is causing chaos. We want drivers to consider whether their car is necessary for every journey and occasionally to think of using other means.'

And at the Labour Party conference it emerged that the new Mayor of London, who is likely to take office in 2000, would be given the power to both tax company-provided car parking spaces and introduce congestion charging.