Each year drivers are faced with various rule changes, and it can be hard to keep up. This year saw the introduction of stricter rules on using a mobile phone while driving, and 2023 is set to see further changes that motorists should know about.
Changes include the end of the fuel duty cut and new rules around parking on the pavement. Manufacturers will also be making changes, with all new cars being fitted with speed limiters.
Here are five of the key changes coming into force in 2023, and some from this year you may have missed, as reported by Hull Live.
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Pavement parking ban
A huge change is due to come into force in part of the UK in 2023. Scotland is set to ban drivers from parking on dropped kerbs and pavements, in order to improve accessibility.
The changes were agreed in 2019 but were delayed due to Covid, and campaigners have been pressing for implementation to begin as soon as possible. A ban already exists in London and speculation has been rife that it could be extended to the rest of England in the future.
Fuel duty rate to change
In March 2022, fuel duty rates were reduced by 5p per litre for 12 months. That means the "temporary" cut is due to end on March 23, 2023. The changes caused controversy last spring, when some petrol stations were accused of failing to pass on the savings to drivers amid the growing cost of living crisis.
When it comes to next year's decision on fuel duty, the prime minister has refused to comment, insisting it is an issue for the chancellor to decide on. The Office for Budget Responsibility has suggested it could rise by 12p, but the Treasury says no decision has yet been taken.
New number plates
Every year, the UK introduces a new set of number plates and 2023 will not be different. In March you'll start spotting '23' plates on the roads, and in September new cars will be registered under the '73' plate.
Heavy goods vehicles levy payment
From August 2023, all HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes will pay a levy to cover damage done to the roads. The measure, originally imposed in 2014, had been suspended during Covid after the government decided to give hauliers breathing space amid driver shortages and cost issues.
Ultra Low Emission Scheme extended
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London will be expanded to all 33 boroughs in August 29 2023. That means cars that do not meet low emission standards will have to pay a £12.50 charge every time they pass through the zone.
Similar zones exist in Brighton and Birmingham, with Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh set to follow.
Recent rule changes you may not know about
Several new laws and rules were announced or came into force in 2022, but some are little-known by drivers. They include:
Speed limiters: All new cars must now be supplied with a speed limiter, which restricts engine power and thus the speed of the car. This does not override the motorist's responsibility to drive within the speed limit.
Mobile phone use: A major change during 2022 was the introduction of stricter mobile phone rules, which mean drivers should never hold and use a phone, tablet or sat-nav for any reason while driving or riding a motorcycle, even if stationary at traffic lights or in a queue. Exceptions include when calling 999, when safely parked, or when using a phone to pay while in a drive-thru queue.
Electric car tax: In 2022, electric car drivers were told they would have to begin paying road tax from April 2025, though in the first year they will go into the lowest bracket, which is expected to cost £10. From 2026 most will pay the standard rated, of £165. Owners of cars costing £40,000 or more will pay an additional charge of £355.
Benefit in kind: Benefit-in-kind (BiK) car tax is a tax on employees who have a company car for their personal use. Employees pay a percentage of the vehicle's value, though the amount they pay depends on their salary and other factors. For petrol cars the BiK rate has risen from 13 per cent to 25 per cent since 2013. The government has announced the rate will now stay at the same level until 2025, in the hope that more employees will be encouraged to switch to electric cars.
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