UK drivers heading further afield in their cars could get a nasty shock if they are not aware of new rules which have come into force.
Motorists have already seen countless driving law changes this year, with new Highway Code rules and motoring fines, but October will see motorists warned of an increase in fines both in the UK and abroad. However expats living in Spain are hopeful that they might finally be able to use their British driving licence, after they were banned from using them on Spanish roads in May.
Families planning an October getaway to France have been warned of potential fines starting this month, especially if they own an older petrol or diesel car. In Marseille, police will begin issuing fines to any 'Euro 2' vehicles, with those registered between 1997 and 2000 likely to be affected, according to The Express.
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October will also see the introduction of rules designed to help electric car owners charge their cars more easily. From today, any electric vehicles (EVs) parked in front of a public charging station must be connected and charging or the driver could risk a hefty €58 (£52) fine.
Even if you don't leave the UK, drivers who use their cars in London should be beware of a new “stealth law” which was quietly introduced earlier this year and has already seen thousands of motorists fined. The Metropolitan Police did not directly announce the rule changes to speed tolerance, but the as a result of the law change, the number of fines given to speeding motorists has spiked by a reported 259%.
An estimated 347,000 drivers were warned that they would be prosecuted for speeding in the first six months of 2022, because of a tiny change to the Met's speed limit tolerance threshold of one mile per hour. Drivers now face prosecution if they break the limit by 10 percent plus 2mph, instead of the previous 10 percent plus 3mph, according to the RAC.
But this month might bring good news to Britons living in Spain, who have been banned from using their UK driving licences on Spanish roads since May. The Department for Transport is still locked in negotiations with the authorities in Spain, with the UK ambassador to Spain saying he thought the situation would have been resolved by now.
In a Facebook update, Hugh Elliott said: “I hear and understand your frustrations. I too am frustrated by the pace. I remain very optimistic that we will reach an agreement and hope it will be soon. But as I say, I can’t give you a definitive timetable. And so the advice that we have been giving all along, which is that you should consider taking the Spanish test if you need to drive urgently, remains valid.”
It is estimated that more than 260,000 British nationals live in Spain, with the number of expats declining after Brexit. Mr Elliott maintained that “complex issues” still needed to be ironed out, with a solution potentially being possible in October.
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