Drivers are being warned of four new laws due to come into force in the UK in 2022 – and those who break them could face a hefty fine.
Four changes, which have yet to take place, include changes to taxes, as the cost to drivers is currently very high due to the fuel and energy crisis. Meanwhile, this month Chancellor Rish Sunak cut fuel taxes by 5p in his spring statement.
Some changes have already been made, however, including cell phone laws. Coming into force on March 25, a loophole has been closed in the law which means mobile phone use can only be done hands-free, reports the Mirror.
Read more: Martin Lewis explains how you can challenge your expensive energy bills as the price cap rises
The new changes will go into effect over the next few months, so what are they?
What changes will motorists face in the rest of 2022?
The main change so far is the modification of the rules regarding the use of a mobile phone. The changes mean a driver cannot hold their phone except in very specific circumstances. They can use it for calls and satellite navigation as long as the use is hands-free.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘Too many deaths and injuries are happening while cellphones are detained. New license plates have already been issued for drivers and are another recognizable change.
Vehicle Excise Duty Changes
From April 1, changes to vehicle excise duty will come into effect, which means that this tax will increase in line with inflation. Cars registered after April 1 will pay more tax than cars registered in March.
Vehicle tax is a vital purchase as any motorist caught driving without it could be fined up to £1,000. The increase in your car tax depends on the number of CO2 emissions it produces. For cars emitting up to 90g/km the increase is £5, bringing the first year’s tax to £120.
Any vehicle producing more than 255g of CO2 emissions per km traveled will see its first year rate rise from £2,245 to £2,365. Cars that have produced zero emissions will pay £0 for their first year on the road.
Discount red diesel and biofuels
Most people don’t need to worry about this change, but red diesel and discount biofuels will become illegal for most vehicles after 2022. This type of diesel is mainly used for off-road vehicles like cranes and bulldozers.
There is no fixed fine for using the wrong fuel, as Speedy Fuels and Lubricants explained: “There is no fixed fine, but if you use it illegally HMRC will charge you to restore your vehicle’s system. to clean your reservoir and filters to remove marker dye.
“You will be charged a fee for its removal. Your car may be detained, or you may even be charged the cost difference between red diesel and on-road diesel for the duration of its use.”
Speed limiter black box
From July 6, 2022, cars will be equipped with speed limiters. This applies to all new cars produced after that date, rather than current cars on the road.
Autocar explained: “The system which will become mandatory on new cars in 2022 uses a forward-facing camera mounted on the car and the vehicle’s satellite navigation system to identify the speed limit and, if the car exceeds it , to limit leaking fuel. engine until the vehicle reaches the speed limit.
The driver can override the system, but the police can access his data in the event of an accident. The box records the speed, braking and steering positions before any accident.
The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your license and there is a maximum of £1000, or £2500 if you were driving on a motorway. Drivers could also be suspended and have their license revoked.
Pollution charges
Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZs) will be expanded across the country this year. An ULEZ is already in place in London to the North and South Ring Roads. It charges drivers of high-emission cars £12.50 a day for use in the zone. This is in addition to congestion charges. Unpaid fees may result in a fine of £160, or £80 if paid within £14 days.
The Chronicle reports that a “Clean Air Zone for Greater Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan will follow on May 30, 2022”, but this will only involve coaches, taxis, buses, PL, VUL and PHV.
It is reported that in Greater Manchester this policy is being reviewed. A similar rule will also be in place in Sheffield, Bristol and Newcastle from July 2022. Meanwhile, Oxford is piloting the country’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in the city centre, with charges ranging from £2 to £10 £ per day depending on vehicle
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Source: www.chroniclelive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-03-31 08:02:32
