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Rule changes to UK driving laws came into force on September 1st 2022. There are four main points that you need to be aware of in order to ensure that you do not get caught out and end up with a fine or points on your license. Changes include rules on speed limiters, the use of mobile phones, clean air zones and goods being transported into Europe. Drivers should familiarise themselves with the new regulations, as ignorance is not an acceptable form of defence. If you are caught inadvertently flouting the rules, you will still have to pay the fines. With a good percentage of drivers admitting to never looking at the highway code or driving laws once they pass their tests, now seems like a good time to rectify that oversight and brush up on your knowledge.
A change in law means that all new cars coming off the production line must have speed limiters installed as standard. This device restricts the power coming from the engine, meaning the vehicle cannot exceed certain speeds. However, the driver is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the speed limit is adhered to. The change was introduced to help road safety and because we are pushing towards autonomous vehicles and self-driving cars.
There had been a loophole in the law until now. Until now, it had been legal for a driver to pick up their mobile phone to scroll playlists or take pictures, as long as it was not used for so-called interactive communications. Now the rules have changed, and drivers will be fined £200 and have six points added to their licence if they so much as pick up their mobile, even when stopped at red lights. The government is very serious about this change, and if you have had a licence for less than two years and you are caught, you may even find your licence is revoked altogether.
London has a low emission zone, as do many other cities, but the scheme is expanding further into many more areas, including Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. A Clean Air Zone means vehicles must meet the criteria to enter one, or the driver will have to pay a surcharge to use roads within the zone. More information about Low Emissions Zones in Scotland can be found here.
Finally, if you are someone who carries goods into the EU that will be used for reward or hire, you must have a new licence to do so. It is a standard integration goods vehicle licence. It will be needed for every vehicle regardless of size if you are transporting goods, and as well as the EU applies to Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Iceland.
Be sure to have a look at the changes; of course, not all will apply, but knowing the law is the best way to ensure you stay fine-free on the roads.
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