It's all change behind the wheel this month, as new regulations are introduced to boost safety for road users and reduce emissions.
These changes are on top of the Highway Code update and new motoring fines which also came into force in this year.
The four changes that all drivers need to be aware of are:
EU speed limiters
Although we're no longer in the EU, from next Wednesday, all cars launched in the European Union will have to fitted with a speed limiter by law. It was thought that the UK might follow suit by adopting the new safety regulations, as the Government has retained many EU laws for new vehicles, despite Brexit. However, a Department for Transport spokesperson has said that a firm decision on this has not been made yet, report the Express.
Read more: Road is opening up to allow self-driving cars on UK roads
The spokesperson said: ““We’re currently assessing the vehicle safety technologies included in the EU's General Safety Regulation and a decision will be taken in due course as to whether to mandate any of those in Great Britain." Government minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has been particularly critical about the speed limiters' introduction and has claimed the UK should not follow EU rules., according to The Mirror.
Fuel prices
An investigation commissioned by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng last month into soaring fuel prices will be published on Thursday, July 7. The report, by the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA), was requested in the wake of concerns that retailers have not passed on the recent cut to fuel duty.
In a letter to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), Kwarteng wrote that people were “rightly frustrated” that the 5p-a-litre reduction had not stopped prices from soaring to record levels at forecourts. Currently, fuel prices stand at an average of 191.10p per litre of petrol and 198.96 for diesel, although it has been reported that in many places, some petrol stations are already charging more than £2 a litre.
Manchester Clean Air Zone
Although pollution tolls that would see some drivers charged up to £50 per day to come into Newcastle city centre have been put on hold, Manchester is pressing on with the tolls, with a consultation on the Clean Air Zone, and a revised plan to it due early this month.
The controversial scheme, which was originally due to start in May. is set to charge owners of non-compliant vans, buses, coaches, taxis and lorries to tackle nitrogen dioxide pollution. Decisions regarding how the zone will operate have not been made, but Mayor Andy Burnham is calling for a non-charging scheme. He has said he will continue to rally against the proposal amid rising fuel prices, supply chain issues and the cost of living crisis.
Electric car chargers
From the end of last month, all home and workplace electric vehicle chargers will be required to have smart charging capabilities. The aim of this new law is to help manage the strain on the National Grid, and prompt drivers to switch to EV-friendly energy tariffs. The hope is that thousands of EV drivers will charge their vehicles during off peak hours, ensuring there is no strain on the utilities company, which will save money at the same time.
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