Motorists have seen several changes throughout 2022, and will be seeing more as we head into 2023.
This year the Highway Code was updated to give road users such as cyclists and horse riders a little more room. Mobile phone restrictions were also expanded to ensure that motorists keep their eyes on the road.
2023 will see the introduction of new rules and laws that drivers should take note of. While some shake-ups could occur during the year, there are a number of changes that we already know about.
As reported by the Hull Daily Mail, here are a few of the upcoming changes that motorists should keep in mind going into the New Year.
New driving laws and rules for 2023
Fuel duty rate to change: Fuel duty rates were reduced by 5p per litre for 12 months with the "temporary" cut due to end on March 23, 2023. The Treasury insisted no decision had been made however the Office for Budget Responsibility suggested it could rise by 12p.
New licence plates: From March you may be able to see a 23 registration plate number on the roads, and in September new cars will be registered under the '73' plate.
Pavement parking ban: Scotland 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.
Heavy goods vehicles levy payment: From August 2023, all HGVs weighing over 12 tonnes will pay a levy to cover for damage done to the roads. The measure, originally imposed in 2014, had been suspended during Covid.
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: New cars will be supplied with a speed limiter, however this will not override the motorist's responsibility to drive within the speed limit.
Mobile phone use: 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: Electric car owners will no longer be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty in the UK. The change will take place in April 2025 - after half of all new vehicles are forecasted to be electric.
Benefit in kind: For petrol cars the BiK rate has risen from 13 percent to 25 percent since 2013. The Government has announced the rate will now stay at the same level until 2025, as it hopes that more employees will switch to electric cars.
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