Roads Minister Mike Penning is inviting people to challenge and comment on motoring red tape in an attempt to reduce bureaucracy.

Over 400 Whitehall road transport regulations have been placed on the Red Tape Challenge website – a Government-wide site aimed at reducing bureaucracy - for four weeks.

It asks everyone whether they think that a regulation is well designed and provides vital protections, or is badly designed, badly implemented or simply a bad idea.

Penning said: “We are calling on everyone: consumers, businesses and volunteer groups to get involved and help reduce the number of badly thought out and obsolete regulations in our country.

“By getting Government off people’s backs we can free businesses to compete, create jobs and unleash a private sector-led recovery. We will also give people the opportunity to play a greater role in their community and build a stronger society.”

The review also targets a number of arcane and obsolete regulations on the statute books that could run the risk of eroding public confidence in regulations.

For example, there are regulations in force dating back to the 2007 foot and mouth crisis allowing milk tanker drivers to work longer hours. There are also regulations that still exist allowing road closures for the 1994 Tour de France.

John Lewis, chief executive of the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association, said: “In the recent past the UK has had some prolific legislators in Government who spent far too much time and energy using legislation to place overbearing controls on the UK motorist with a never ending stream of regulations that stayed in place for years even if their original purpose was out-dated.

“This challenge gives people and businesses a four week opportunity to challenge what they believe is transport red tape and to put forward logical arguments for removing unnecessary and irrelevant regulations, which will get listened to. Let’s make the most of it.”