The year 2022 is a new one, which means it’s time for some fresh driving regulations in the United Kingdom! In this blog, we’ll look at the modifications that are scheduled to take effect in 2022 so you can stay safe on the roads.
In this blog post, we’ll go over everything from auto insurance to the Highway Code, mobile phone loopholes to petrol, parking on sidewalks to red diesel bans, and more. Let’s start with how the government is going after loophole users.
Contents
Mobile Phone Loopholes Ban
In the United Kingdom, using a mobile phone on the roads is extremely dangerous. It’s one of the worst because of this those policies are being made to address drivers who use their phones on the road directly, with measures to tighten loopholes in existing rules.
Although you can’t text or contact someone while driving in the United Kingdom right now, it doesn’t seem to deter people from swiping their phones or tapping them to see whether there’s a message on the screen.
You will not be able to take photographs, make movies, scroll through your phone, or play games on your phone starting in 2022. Not that you should!
If you’re discovered to violate these brand-new regulations by the cops, you’ll get a £200 fixed penalty charge, as well as six points on your driving license for good measure.
The new Highway Code will include these modifications, which we’ll examine now.
Highway Code Changes for 2022
The classic Highway Code is expected to be updated in 2022, with the “Hierarchy of road users” being altered to give a higher priority to protecting vulnerable road users such as bikers. The following hierarchy appears to exist: Pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists, cars and taxis, vans and minibuses, HGVs s and large passenger vehicles.
To put it another way, in order of importance. It implies that the lighter you are, the higher on the hierarchy you are, thus drivers must give way to you if they’re in a car that’s larger or heavier. Isn’t it easy?
Potential Pavement Parking Ban
Parking on the pavement is a problem for dog walkers, ordinary pedestrians, and people using wheelchairs or with other mobility difficulties. Doing so is now prohibited in London and Scotland has just banned all on-pavement parking by 2023, with England potentially following suit as we enter the new year.
As we reported last year, the government has announced plans to introduce fines of up to £70 for drivers who obstruct pavements around the country instead of just in London. The proposals are still under consideration, so nothing is final yet.
We’ll keep you updated on this as more information becomes available.
Council Authority for Drivers in 2022
This neatly leads us to our next legal reform, which is councils and their authority when it comes to penalizing road users. All around the country in 2022, authorities will be granted greater power as part of the bigger trends in driving that year. This means they’ll have more power to hand out £70 fines for “moving traffic.”
What is the definition of “moving traffic”? It refers to anything from taking unusual turns on the road to stopping in yellow box junctions rather than obeying previous rules that covered obvious changes like driving in bus lanes. The legal amendment will apply across 300 councils throughout the United Kingdom, allowing local authorities to impose penalties in collaboration with the police.
However, there is cause for concern, because some prominent individuals believe that councils will go too far and avoid the subtlety that cops may offer drivers. We’ll have to wait and see!
Speed Limiters
The European Commission has mandated that all vehicles manufactured after 2022 must be equipped with speed limiters to prevent accidents. This is why, in the General Safety Regulation, the European Commission developed the notion that all motor vehicles should have speed limiters if they are created after 2022. The European Parliament embraced this proposal in 2019, therefore beginning on July 6, 2022, it will apply across Europe and including the United Kingdom.
From 6 July 2022, cars with ISA black boxes will be installed, and they’ll use GPS to determine speed limits, ensuring that the car does not break them. This change only applies to vehicles manufactured after that date rather than those in production before it and brought into circulation afterwards.
Compulsory EV Chargers for New Builds
If you’re building anything, whether a home or a business structure, it will need an electric vehicle charging station in 2022. This is to encourage greater use of electric vehicles throughout the UK to fulfil the government’s goal of eliminating the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
It’s logical to assume that if there are additional electric vehicle charging stations available, people would buy electric cars as a result of them. Let’s see how effective it is!
Clean Air Zone Charges
Again, the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, or simply, the Clean Air Zone, is already in place in London as a new regulation.
In this sector, drivers are subject to a daily charge of £12.50 and congestion charges if they utilize it in a car that doesn’t meet the requirements for an environmentally friendly drive.
This was extended to the North and South Circular ring roads in late 2021, and it is expected to be implemented throughout Greater Manchester and Birmingham in May 2022 and June 2022, respectively. Bradford’s plans are also expected to be presented later this year, with a pilot beginning in Oxford in 2022.
In addition, larger vehicles such as buses, coaches, taxis, and other heavy goods vehicles will be subject to the charge in most areas. Greater Manchester is the first area to implement it, with larger vehicles like this initially being charged.
In the meantime, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Sheffield, and Bristol are starting a similar program this July. The charges for these regions have yet to be determined.
Ban on Red Diesel and Rebated Biofuels
When you hear the word diesel, you may be concerned that it implies something dangerous. Red diesel, on the other hand, is rarely used in small vehicles like passenger cars. In reality, red fuel is generally used to drive something large, such as a bulldozer or crane.
The first part of this argument is that if you drive a typical car or van, the ban on these fuels will not apply to you. This prohibition will come into force on April 1, 2022.
Car Insurance Changes
The objective of this regulation is to assist drivers somewhat! The Financial Conduct Authority’s new rule prohibits insurance firms from increasing existing customers’ premiums gradually. This is known as “price walking” and has long been a problem in the United Kingdom. It’s uncertain what impact this new legislation will have on petrol prices in the UK.
It could save customers up to 4 billion pounds over ten years by reducing discounts for new clients and possibly eliminating them, according to reports
Number Plates with National Numbers
So, there you have it! In 2022, the most significant changes to UK road rules will take effect. However, certain things will not change, and National Numbers is still the finest location to acquire a personal number plate.
National Numbers provide 61 million unique private registration numbers to choose from with 0% financing available on almost all of them. Look and see whether anything catches your eye; call our knowledgeable sales team at 01642 363738 for additional information.
