New rules for drivers in 2022 that could result in hefty fines

Four new driving rules are set to be introduced in 2022, with fines of up to £2,500. The changes range from tax rates to fuel restrictions

New driving laws will come into force for motorists in the UK and people could be fined if they break them.

Four changes are pending, including tax changes.

Driver costs are already high due to the fuel and energy crisis and this month Chancellor Rish Sunak cut fuel taxes by 5p in his spring declaration.

Cell phone laws have already been changed. The changes, which went into effect on March 25, closed a loophole in the law that says cell phones can only be used hands-free.

The new changes will come into effect over the next few months, so what are they?

What changes will motorists face in the rest of 2022?

The most important change so far is the change in the rules for using a mobile phone.

The changes mean a driver can only hold their phone in very specific circumstances. You can use it for calls and sat nav as long as the usage is hands-free.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Too many deaths and injuries are occurring while mobile phones are being held.”

New number plates have already been issued to drivers and are another noticeable change.

Changes in motor vehicle excise duty

From April 1st, changes to the vehicle excise tax will come into effect, meaning that this tax will increase in line with inflation.

Cars registered after April 1 pay more tax than cars registered in March.

Road tax is an important purchase as any motorist caught driving without it can be fined up to £1,000.

How much your vehicle tax increases depends on how much CO2 emissions it causes. For cars emitting up to 90g/km the increase is £5, bringing the tax to £120 in the first year.

For any vehicle producing more than 255g of CO2 emissions per kilometer driven, the rate increases from £2,245 to £2,365 in the first year.

Cars that have produced zero emissions pay £0 for the first year on the road.

Red diesel and discounted biofuels

Most people don’t need to worry about this change, but red diesel and discounted biofuels will become illegal for most vehicles after 2022.

This type of diesel is mainly used for off-road vehicles such as cranes and bulldozers.

There is no set fine for using the wrong fuel, as Speedy Fuels and Lubricants explained: “There is no set fine but if you are caught using it illegally HMRC will charge you to have your vehicle’s system restored to order Clean your tank and filters to remove the marking paint.

“You will be charged a fee for removal. Your car may be confiscated, or you may even be reclaimed the difference in cost between red diesel and road diesel for the time you used it.”

Speed ​​limiter black box

From July 6, 2022, cars will be equipped with speed limiters. This applies to all new cars produced after this date and not to current cars on the road.

Autocar explained: “The system, which will become mandatory for new cars from 2022, uses a car-mounted forward-facing camera and the vehicle’s satellite navigation system to detect the speed limit and, if the car exceeds it, restrict fuel flow to the engine until the vehicle has reached the limit speed.”

The driver can override the system, but the police can access the data from them in the event of an accident. The box records speed, braking and steering positions in advance of an accident.

The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points which will be added to your driving license and there is a maximum of £1,000 or £2,500 if you have been driving on a motorway. Drivers could also be suspended and their driving licenses revoked.

pollution fees

Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) will be expanded nationwide this year.

In London there is already a ULEZ up to the North and South Circular Ring Roads. It charges drivers of high-emission cars £12.50 per day for use within the zone. This is in addition to any congestion charges.

Unpaid charges may result in a fine of £160 or £80 if paid within 14 days.

The Chronicle reports that on 30 May 2022 a “Clean Air Zone will follow for Greater Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan” but this will only affect coaches, taxis, buses, Trucks, LVG and PHV.

It is reported that Greater Manchester is currently reviewing this policy.

A similar regulation will also apply in Sheffield, Bristol and Newcastle from July 2022.

Meanwhile, Oxford is introducing the country’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) in the city center, with charges ranging from £2 to £10 per day depending on the vehicle