THE Highway Code has had another rule refresh and Brits need to brush up on them – or risk facing hefty financial penalties.
Motorists could be hit with fines of up to £2,500 for breaking them, so it’s crucial to know how to avoid being caught out.
Under new Highway Code rules, drivers will be looking out for pedestrians and cyclists a whole lot more.
Among the new rules that have already been introduced is a “hierarchy of road users”, extra clarity on where cyclists can ride on the road and where pedestrians will now have the right of way over motorists.
But now the focus has fallen on motors themselves, rather than the habits of drivers on the road.
One of the new rules being implemented from April 1 is changes to vehicle excise duty – meaning this tax will increase in line with inflation.
Therefore cars registered after this will be paying a higher tax amount than cars registered in March.
The exact rise in tax depends on how many C02 emissions the vehicle produces, so those that release none will pay nothing for their first year.
But for motors giving off up to 90g/km, there will be a £5 increase which takes the first year of tax up to £120.
Any car producing over 255g of CO2 emissions per km travelled will see their first-year rate rise from £2,245 to £2,365.
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Vehicle tax is an essential purchase for Brits and anyone caught driving without it could be fined up to £1,000.
Another change in regulations is that red diesel and rebated biofuels will become illegal for the majority of vehicles after 2022.
But most motorists don’t have to worry about this change, as this type of diesel is mainly used for off-road vehicles such as cranes and bulldozers.
Although there is no fixed fine for using the wrong fuel, drivers would be forced to fork out for the restoration of the vehicle’s system by HMRC.
Speedy Fuels and Lubricants explained: “if you’re found using it illegally, the HMRC will charge you for the restoration of your vehicle’s system to clean your tank and filters to remove the marker dye.
“You will be charged a fee for its removal. Your car can be detained, or you can even be back charged for the difference in cost between red diesel and road diesel over the time you’ve been using it.”
RULE REVAMP
One of the most substantial adjustments in wake of the Highway Code revamp is that from July 6 2022, cars will be fitted with speed limiters.
This exclusively applies to any new motors produced after the date, rather than cars already on the road.
The system will become a mandatory feature of new vehicles and will use a forward-facing camera and the vehicle’s satellite navigation system to identify the speed limit.
Autocar explained: “If the car is exceeding it, it will restrict the fuel flowing to the engine until the vehicle is at the limit speed.”
The driver can override the system, however, the police can still access the detailed data in the event of a crash.
The box records speed, braking and steering positions in the lead up to any accident.
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A string of major changes to the Highway Code this year, in a bid to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.
Owners of larger vehicles have also taken the biggest hit as the country tries to cut harmful emissions.