Tow-truck ban from VIP lanes 'will worsen Olympic jams'

They have been banned from the "Games lanes" that are reserved to speed athletes, officials and dignitaries between venues next summer.

This means that if drivers break down on the 108-mile Olympic Route Network, the AA and RAC will be unable to use the VIP lanes to reach them - potentially leading to massive tailbacks if the only lane for "normal" traffic is blocked.

Taxi drivers and cyclists have also been banned from the VIP lanes, which will be enforced by council officers and CCTV cameras. But refuse lorries, Royal Mail vans and utility companies are permitted. AA president Edmund King told the Standard: "Speed is of the essence to get to a breakdown and clear the road. It's not as if the Olympic lanes are going to be inundated with AA vehicles.

"I would have thought there is a good case for efficiency to keep traffic moving generally, and that is the case we have put, but it doesn't seem to be getting acceptance."

A RAC spokeswoman said it had been negotiating with 2012 organiser Locog for 18 months in an attempt to resolve the issue, adding: "I think the traffic in London is going to be pretty bad and this will just make it even worse."

Transport for London says "around half" of the network of the designated Olympic Road Network will be taken up by Games lanes, which will be like bus lanes but will mostly be in the outside or "fast" lane.

The lanes will operate from June 29 until mid-September to take in the Paralympics, from 6am to midnight on key roads such as the A40 Westway, Victoria Embankment and Marylebone Road.

The ban on tow-trucks will not apply to those used by official 2012 car supplier BMW. It will be able to rescue any of its 4,000 vehicles - and 900 people carriers it will hire from another manufacturer - that break down as they transport Games VIPs across London.

A TfL spokeswoman said: "TfL will have dedicated rapid response vehicles at strategic locations around the Olympic Route Network to move abandoned, broken down or illegally parked vehicles that are causing an obstruction.

Broken down vehicles will be moved to the nearest possible location off the network to enable breakdown services to attend.

"The Olympic Route Network rapid response vehicle removals service for the Games is funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority and is in addition to TfL's permanent team of 130 road response officers dedicated to responding to incidents and keeping traffic moving on the ground."