New driving laws 2022: the changes in the regulations and the Highway Code that will affect all drivers Yorkshire News

Every year brings a wave of new plans, consultations, and legislation, and 2022 will be no different.

We are already aware of some laws that will change in the next 12 months, as well as important revisions to the Highway Code, which guides how all road users behave.

There will certainly be more changes as the year progresses, but below we have put together the new laws and rule changes that we already know about.

Currently drivers can be fined £ 200 and six penalty points for using a handset for ‘interactive communication’ while driving. However, a loophole means that they cannot be prosecuted for taking videos, photos, or other uses, such as scrolling through downloaded music.

Under the new law, any use of a handheld phone or other device while driving will be made illegal and punishable by the same fine of £ 200 and six points.

Another major change that will affect all road users is the release of the update Highway code, which will take effect in January.

Key changes to the guide include the creation of an official “road user hierarchy” designed to protect the most vulnerable, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The new hierarchy will mean that road users who can cause the most harm will have the greatest responsibility for reducing the danger they can pose to others. This places more, but not complete, responsibility on those traveling in larger vehicles to ensure they do not put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk.

The new Highway Code also states that drivers heading into an intersection or changing lanes must not cross the path of bicyclists, jockeys, or horse-drawn vehicles. And it prioritizes pedestrians when they expect to cross at an intersection or crossing rather than just when they are already crossing.

The law on who can tow a trailer It was due to change in November, but was suspended at the last minute. Since then, the DVSA has said that the new rules on licensing will come in “as soon as possible,” meaning the change is likely to come in 2022.

Under current law, drivers who passed the test on or after January 1, 1997 are required to take a car and trailer test to tow anything in excess of 750kg. However, based on the planned change, this requirement will be removed and all drivers will be able to tow trailers up to 3,500 kg without additional testing.

Parking on the sidewalk is already illegal in London, but changes to the law are expected in 2022 that will give city councils in England and Wales the power to issue £ 70 fines on the spot.

A separate bill banning the practice has already been passed in Scotland, but won’t go into effect until 2023.

A consultation to allow other doctors to perform the check-ups ended in early December and, if their proposals are accepted, the nurses and other doctors could join the registered physicians to carry out the check-ups.

Starting next year, England’s city councils will have the power to impose fines for a variety of ‘moving traffic offenses’, such as driving in a bus lane, stopping at a yellow box crossing, or ignoring traffic prohibition signs. entry.

At the moment, only London and Cardiff city councils have such powers, but earlier this year the Department for Transport confirmed that it intended to enact dormant elements of the Traffic Management Act to give the same authority to other English councils.

This is expected to get parliamentary approval in early 2022 and once that happens, councils will be able to issue flat fines of £ 70 for a number of offenses currently monitored by the police.