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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Mya Bollan & Lee Dalgetty

Highway Code changes come into force as drivers face £100 fuel fine

Drivers are being warned of new rules coming into force this year, if they want to avoid fines.

Among the updates is a £100 fine fuel warming, with the Highway Code applying changes this month. This will introduce new driving laws impacting electric car parking fines, additional clean air zones and other changes.

Drivers who run out of fuel and obstruct traffic face a fine up to £100 and points on their license, with this now extended to electric cars. More than 10,500 breakdowns last year were due to drivers running out of fuel or charge, according to the AA.

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The motor experts believe that this is due to drivers choosing to delay filling up their tanks as fuel prices skyrocketed amid the cost of living crisis, reports the Mirror.

Additionally, tougher rules on mobile phone use when behind the wheel have come into force. Previously, motorists using their phone were fined up to £200 as well as receiving six penalty points on their licence.

In new, tougher rules it is completely illegal to use phones or any other electronic device - such as a sat nav or tablet - while behind the wheel. Another possible update may see newly passed drivers face strict rules, with new motorist under the age of 25 potentially stopped from carrying passenger under the same age limit in a bid to boost road safety, reports the Mirror.

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The proposed change would see a 'graduated driving licence' introduced, restricting young drivers from certain activities for a set, short timeframe. The subject it set to be debated by y Transport Minister Richard Holden come May 16, at a road safety meeting.

Speaking previously Seb Goldin, CEO of RED Driver Training, said: "We know that people of all ages rely on the freedom that driving provides, and graduated driving licensing risks placing restrictions on this.

"However, data shows that in countries where graduated driving licensing is in effect, it is being received well and, in an environment where incidents on our roads are commonplace, taking steps to reduce the risks of death and serious injuries is a protocol we support.

"Road safety remains our ultimate concern, and this probationary period for drivers who are more likely to be involved in an incident allows us to prioritise this even further.”

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