New changes are set to be introduced this month that will affect motorists.
The changes will impact drivers across the country, but motorists in the region will also have to pay attention to the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone also coming into effect too.
This is the latest in a series of changes across the year, after new Highway Code rules and motoring fines were brought into force, and are intended to improve road safety and reduce emission, according to our sister paper The Mirror. Here they are in full:
Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone
Greater Manchester was set to introduce a charging area as part of the Clean Air Zone in May, however backlash to the proposal led to the plans being delayed back in February.
The controversial scheme was set to charge owners of non-compliant vans, buses, coaches, taxis and lorries to tackle nitrogen dioxide pollution, with Government officials pushing for charging vehicles within the city centre.
Decisions regarding how the zone will operate have not been made, but Mayor Andy Burnham is calling for a non-charging scheme. He has said he will continue to rally against the proposal amid rising fuel prices, supply chain issues and the cost of living crisis.
The ‘Case for a new Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan’ has been published as part of a report considered by the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee on July 1. Drivers will need to keep a close eye on developments to see how it affects them.
EU speed limiters
From Wednesday, July 6, all newly launched car models will be legally required to be fitted with a speed limiter in the European Union, but a Department for Transport spokesperson told the Express that a firm decision on the UK's stance on his has not yet been made.
Despite Brexit, it was thought that the UK might follow this directive and adopt the new safety regulations, as the Government has retained many EU laws for new vehicles.
The spokesperson added: “The UK’s departure from the EU provides us with the platform to capitalise on our regulatory freedoms and make decisions that are right for Great Britain and benefit road safety. We’re currently assessing the vehicle safety technologies included in the EU's General Safety Regulation and a decision will be taken in due course as to whether to mandate any of those in Great Britain.”
The EU 2019/2044 regulation also mandates all new cars that have already launched be fitted with an Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) by July 7, 2024. However, many ministers within Government have been critical of their introduction - namely Jacob Rees-Mogg - and have even claimed the UK should not follow EU rules.
Fuel prices
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, earlier in June, called on the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate record petrol and diesel prices, as fuel prices stand at a whopping 191.10p per litre on average, with a marginally higher cost of 198.96p per litre for diesel.
It has been reported that in many places, some petrol stations are already charging more than £2 a litre, but a report from the CMA to decide whether consumers are getting a "fair deal" for fuel is due on July 7.
Although this report doesn't necessarily mean action will be taken on this date if the authority decides fuel duty cuts haven't been passed on to the consumer, it's worth keep an eye out for the results for an indication on whether the upward trend will continue, or whether we can expect to see a slight dip in fuel costs over the coming weeks.
Electric car chargers
From the end of last month, June 30, all home and workplace electric vehicle chargers will be required to have smart charging capabilities. The aim of this new law is to help manage the strain on the National Grid, and prompt drivers to switch to EV-friendly energy tariffs.
With this it is also hoped that thousands of EV drivers will charge their vehicles during off peak hours, ensuring there is no strain on the utilities company. The move should also help consumers save money at the same time.
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