When you’ve handed your driving take a look at, it’s simple to imagine that you understand every thing there’s to learn about driving.
In actuality, the principles of the highway are continuously altering and it’s necessary to have up-to-date data of the newest motoring legal guidelines to keep away from expensive driving fines. To assist, we’ve pulled collectively an inventory of driving legal guidelines which were up to date over the previous two years – all of which might result in a advantageous or penalty factors when you break them.
Clear air zones
London’s clear air zones (CAZ) have been round for just a few years, however the boundaries for the Extremely-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is because of develop.
The ULEZ is growing to cowl all London boroughs from 29th August 2023. You may see the whole enlargement on the Transport for London web site.
Launched in 2019, the ULEZ consists of stricter emission requirements and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days every week.
Moreover, the Mayor of London has introduced a scrappage scheme, which means that eligible Londoners can obtain fee for scrapping their car and put it in the direction of a brand new one which meets the emissions requirements. There’s additionally the choice to obtain a decrease fee, plus two annual bus and tram passes. Discover out extra data right here.
London isn’t the one metropolis with clear air zones. Many different cities launched their very own in 2021 together with Bathtub, Oxford, Bristol, and Birmingham. Glasgow additionally has a CAZ however in 2024 will set up cameras to catch automobiles that don’t meet the emissions normal. Click on right here for additional info.
Brexit motoring legal guidelines
Keep in mind these days once you’d groan each time you heard one other Brexit replace? It could appear a very long time in the past now, however the penalties of Brexit impacted motoring legal guidelines.
With the UK not a part of the EU, British drivers should adhere to new necessities when driving in EU nations. This implies carrying a inexperienced card, your driving license, and having a GB sticker on the rear of your car until your quantity plate already has a GB identifier, both alone or with the Union flag.
These travelling overseas for lower than 12 months may also want their V5C logbook.
Keep in mind, in sure nations, you’re additionally required to hold particular gear in your car reminiscent of reflective clothes, emission stickers, and headlight converter stickers – so, be sure you analysis the necessities of the nation you’re visiting forward of time.
Study extra about driving in Europe with our useful article.
Cell phone motoring legislation
Legal guidelines banning using cell phones whereas driving has been in place since 2003 – with a loophole that also allowed drivers to take images or movies whereas driving.
To handle this, the legislation modified in 2021, which made it unlawful to carry your cell phone for any goal whereas driving – that features flicking by way of a playlist or scrolling by way of social media.
In the event you break this legislation, you possibly can end up £200 out of pocket with 6 factors in your license.
Nonetheless, the legislation then modified once more in 2022 with amendments in keeping with evolving use of expertise and what’s thought of to be ‘utilizing a telephone’. Along with making telephone calls and taking images, another prohibited actions whereas driving now embody:
- Illuminating the display
- Unlocking the system
- Checking the time
There are, nonetheless, exceptions reminiscent of making a contactless fee on a drive-thru and making emergency 999 calls.
For a full checklist of prohibited and acceptable telephone makes use of whereas behind the wheel, check out our article on cell phone driving legal guidelines.
Inexperienced quantity plates
From the start of December 2020, new inexperienced quantity plates grew to become authorized on UK roads.
That includes a inexperienced slip on the left aspect of the plate, these can be found for zero-emission automobiles. With one, these automobiles ought to turn into extra seen serving to house owners to make the most of zero-emission zones and inexperienced parking initiatives.
If in case you have a zero-emission car, it might be value contemplating a inexperienced quantity plate.
Pace limiters
From 2022, pace limiters grew to become obligatory on all new automobiles. These programs alert drivers in the event that they’re driving too quick and can routinely sluggish the automobile’s pace if the driving force doesn’t decrease it themselves.
So, when you’re shopping for a brand new automobile, count on it to have a pace limiter.
Introducing the Halfords Motoring Membership
One other approach to keep secure on the roads this yr is to affix the Halfords Motoring Membership. You’ll get entry to a variety of wonderful advantages and reductions that may assist to maintain you transferring, maintain you secure and maintain you saving.
It’s free to affix and also you’ll obtain cash off your MOT, a free automobile well being test and a welcome voucher that may be spent on any Halfords services or products.
Or select our Premium membership for a small month-to-month payment (or a one-off fee) to unlock unique member pricing on all motoring services and products on-line and throughout our shops, garages and Halfords Cellular Consultants, in addition to a wide range of different advantages that may show you how to to maintain transferring for much less.
With a lot to get pleasure from, that is too good a possibility to overlook!
Be part of the Halfords Motoring Membership right now at www.halfords.com/motoring-club.
Now you’re updated with motoring legislation modifications! Head out in your subsequent drive secure within the data that you simply’re clued up on the principles of the highway.
Don’t neglect, it’s unlawful to drive a automobile with out an MOT and you may e book your MOT take a look at with Halfords right here. We additionally provide a variety of automobile providers to assist maintain you and your automobile on the transfer.
Plus, with the uncertainty of the power worth cap and value of residing disaster, we all know that you simply’ll be eager to save cash as and when you possibly can. Right here at Halfords, we’re dedicated to driving down costs and providing you the perfect worth doable to maintain you secure, blissful, and safe. We’ve pledged to by no means be overwhelmed on worth on 1000s of motoring necessities – learn extra right here.
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