6 new driving laws in the UK from 2022

With the New Year comes a new set of rules and laws that drivers and car manufacturers must follow. Here's a round-up of all the changes you can expect in 2022:

All new cars will be fitted with speed limiters from 6th July 2022 onwards to improve road safety. This regulation was proposed by the European Commission in the General Safety Regulation and was approved by the European Parliament in 2019. The UK is likely to follow this legal requirement despite Brexit, as the UK has retained most EU laws for new cars and this would also help standardise the car manufacturing process across Europe.
Learn more about how speed limiters work.

All new properties built in England from 2022 onwards will have to have an EV charging point installed as standard. – This includes all new homes and non-residential buildings such as supermarkets and offices, as well as substantially renovated buildings with more than 10 parking spots.
The government hopes that the new legislation will help boost the number of EV chargers available to the public and further accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles, before the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars in 2030.

The laws on using your phone while driving will change from 2022 onwards – while texting or calling while driving is already illegal, stricter laws from 2022 will make taking photos and videos, selecting a song on your playlist and playing games on your phone while driving illegal as well. This rule applies even if you’re stopped at a red light.
Drivers will be fined a £200 fixed penalty and six points on their licence for breaking the law. Using your phone for directions will be allowed, provided you have hands-free access to your phone, for example if it’s secured in a cradle. Related: Can you use your phone and sat nav while driving in the UK

Most businesses will be forced to switch from rebated red diesel and biofuels to taxed white diesel from 1st April 2022 onwards. This is to promote the use of more sustainable fuels and encourage energy-efficient ways of doing business.
Rebated red diesel will only be allowed for agriculture, horticulture, fish farming, forestry, rail and non-commercial heating system users. Learn more about the changes to the use of rebated red fuel.

Greater Manchester is set to introduce its own Clean Air Zone (CAZ) from 30th May 2022 onwards. The Manchester Clean Air Zone will cover Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
Bradford too will start charging polluting vehicles entering its Clean Air Zone from 2022 onwards. The Bradford Clean Air Zone will cover the Bradford outer ring road and extend out along the Aire valley corridor which comprises of Manningham Lane/Bradford Road and Canal Road area and will include Shipley and Saltaire. The start date is yet to be announced. Learn more about: • Greater Manchester CAZ • Bradford CAZ Find ULEZ and CAZ-compliant cars on Auto Trader

Changes to the Highway Code have been proposed to improve road safety for more vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians, who are most likely to get injured in an accident. The changes to driving laws are planned to come into effect from 29th January 2022.
The proposed changes include introducing a hierarchy of road users – known as Rule H1 – to promote safety for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. Another rule called H2 requires drivers to stop and give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road on junctions, zebra crossing and parallel crossing first. Rule H3 states drivers shouldn’t cut cyclists, horse riders or horse-drawn vehicles going ahead when you’re turning into or out of a junction and mentions safe passing distances and speed when overtaking cyclists or horse riders. Learn more about road safety

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