Rules aroudn driving are always being amended and it is important to keep on top of them to make sure that you are on the right side of the law.
Many changes affect the whole of the UK but some cities have specific rules you need to make sure you adhere to.
Fletchers Group solicitors spoke to BirminghamLive to share have shared details of the eight rules and how they will affect everybody in the country. We've listed some of them out below so you can brush up on your knowledge - and most importantly, not get caught out.
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ULEZ and Clean Air Zones
From August 29, 2023, London’s preexisting Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will extend to all of London's boroughs. Fletchers Associate solicitor and team leader Jayne Orme commented: “All diesel cars are allowed to be driven in London, but around 9.5 million of them don’t meet the latest emissions standards.
"These cars will incur a fee if they are driven in these zones so at a time when money is tight it is really important to check before you travel as you don’t want to be caught out with unnecessary fines. I do believe something like this needed to be done to try and reduce the effects of climate change, however the timing for such changes is probably not great.”
Pavement parking ban (Scotland)
Scotland originally announced its intention to ban pavement parking and dropped kerbs in 2019, with former Transport Secretary Michael Matheson, saying a ban would not be enforced before 2023. Rule 244 of the Highway Code states that drivers “must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London”, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it.
20mph speed limits cap
From September 17, 2023, drivers will see speed limits on most restricted roads in Wales being cut from 30mph to 20mph. The report adds: “Evidence suggests that the health benefits of 20mph are far, far greater than casualty savings alone. They include increased physical activity, and therefore less obesity, less stress and less anxiety, as well as other health benefits such as reduced noise and air pollution.
"We know from previous studies that 20mph encourages more walking and cycling and in doing so improves cardiorespiratory health, as well as reducing stress and anxiety, thereby improving mental health. With more walking and cycling comes less car use, improving air quality and therefore improving health.”
This has been controversial in Wales among some groups but the Welsh Government say it is vital in efforts to promote safety and tackle climate change. You can read more on this here.
Fuel duty rates
UK fuel duty rates were slashed by 5p for 12 months to help struggling households manage the soaring price of fuel alongside other rising household costs. Come 23 March 2023, however, this reduction will end and fuel duty rates are due to return to normal.
Dorry Potter, expert at National Scrap Car, said: "Fuel prices in the UK reached record highs in 2022, with the average price of petrol hitting 191.53p-per-litre and diesel reaching 199.05p in July. Although in theory, they are going down, there is now a considerable difference between petrol and diesel prices with petrol now costing around 149p and diesel 170p per litre."
However, Ms Potter stressed that "the positives of fuel reduction will quite possibly be short-lived when a UK fuel duty could be set to soar by 23 percent in March".
You can read the full list of driving law changes, here.
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