It’s February 1st and whilst you may feel that one day feels very much like the next the start of the new month has seen some new motoring laws come into play – here’s a summary.
MOT extension ends
MOT test extensions, brought in last year due to the first Covid-19 lockdown, came to an end on January 31st. Driving without a valid MOT certificate could see road users fined up to £1,000 so don’t let yours slip!
Brexit changes
Although none of us are going far right now it’s worth noting that whilst British drivers will not need an International Driving Permit in most cases when travelling abroad, some documents are still needed. The biggest change is the need for a car insurance green card which you can get from your car insurance provider and you will also need your V5C logbook with you if their vehicle is less than 12-months-old.
Mobile Phone Usage
There were still a few loopholes that ‘allowed’ the use of a mobile behind the wheel. Not any more! Under the new rules, drivers can be issued a £200 fine and six penalty points for simply holding a phone under any circumstances.
New Clean Air Zones
London’s ULEZ (Ultra-low emission zone) system will be expanded to several Outer London boroughs from October 2021 adding an extra daily charge of £12 .50 to millions of motorists. As well as this change, Bath and Birmingham will be the first cities outside of London to introduce new Clean Air Zone charges this year. Birmingham's zone is set to charge the highest polluting vehicles up to £8 per day.
Green number plates
Owners of electric and zero-emission vehicles can now buy the brand new green number plates. The Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said “Green number plates could unlock a number of incentives for drivers and increase awareness of cleaner vehicles on our roads, showing people that a greener transport future is within our grasp.” One place to buy your plate is Halfords.
What can we expect in the future?
A consultation on a nationwide pavement parking ban was finished in late 2020 and the results are due soon. A national ban could see a £70 fine issued to any road user who parks on the pavement – this is similar to current legislation in London. Looking ahead to next year, new Intelligent Speed Assistant tools are set to become mandatory on all new cars from 2022 to alert drivers if they are going too fast. The tech can intervene if a driver continues to drive above the limit after the warning.
We hope this has been a useful round up.
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