A range of new driving laws were announced at the start of 2023, which are set to be pushed through later this year, with some already coming into force. All motorists will be impacted by the changes, as whilst some rules are area-specific, many are UK wide.
The changes include pavement parking being banned in certain areas, new speed restrictions and changes to fuel duty rates. Fletchers Group solicitors has shared details of the new eight rules and how they will affect everybody on the roads reports Birmingham Live.
To help you stay up to date with the changes, we've listed some of them out below so you can brush up on your knowledge and not get caught out.
Do you think all residential roads should have a 20mph speed limit? Let us know
ULEZ and Clean Air Zones
From August 29, 2023, London’s pre-existing Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will extend to all of London's boroughs. Fletchers Associate solicitor and team leader, Jayne Orme, said: “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
In 2019 Scotland originally announced its intention to ban pavement parking and dropped kerbs, 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 also speed limits on most restricted roads in Wales being decreased 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.”
Fuel duty rates
To help struggling households in the cost of living crisis, UK fuel duty rates were slashed by 5p for 12 months. However, on March 23, 2023, this reduction ended 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".
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