22 new road law changes for 2025 - including three at night

Man driving
-Credit:Getty


Motorists have been warned over 22 new driving regulations introduced this year - impacting everything from driving licences to traffic penalties. Drivers are being urged to get up to speed with these modifications or face consequences.

And the arrival of February is set to usher in even more changes. These adjustments precede the new car tax rates and alterations announced by the Labour Government.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has verified tweaks to the tax bands for brand new vehicles from April 2025 onwards. However, these amendments will only affect the cost of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first year the vehicle is registered.

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ChronicleLive has put together a list of the most vital new rules that motorists need to look out for.

Traffic fines - 13 new rules

  • Cyclist holding on to a vehicle for the purpose of being drawn along S.26(2) RTA 1988

  • Cycle on a road dangerously s.28(1) RTA 1988

  • Use of a pedal cycle without lights at night S.91 RTOA 1988, regulation 24(a)(i) Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

  • Fail to comply with instructions on a notice from a constable regarding the use of a pedal cycle in a Royal Park S.2(1) Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926, regulation 3(9)(a) The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997

  • Cycle on a road without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other users S.29 RTA 1988

  • Fail to stop at a school crossing patrol S.28(3) Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA 1984)

  • Fail to wait at a school crossing patrol S. 28(3) RTRA 1984.

  • Use of a pedal cycle at night without lights or reflector being fitted S.91 RTOA 1988, regulation 23(1) Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

  • Riding a pedal cycle in a dangerous manner in a Royal Park S.2(1) Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926, regulation 3(10)(c) The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997

  • Use of a pedal cycle when the lights are not in good working order S.91 RTOA 1988, regulation 23(1) Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

  • Use a non-motor vehicle with a lamp used to cause undue dazzle or discomfort S.91 RTOA 1988, regulation 27 Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

  • Using a vehicle or cycle in the dark with no lights in a Royal Park s. 2(1) Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926, regulation 3(11)(a) The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997

  • Cyclist holding on to a trailer for the purpose of being drawn along S.26(2) RTA 1988

DVSA - 7 new rules

In addition, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has introduced seven new rules. Revised regulations for booking practical driving tests have been put into effect in an attempt to address the record waiting times and suppress black-market bookings.

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Under these new guidelines, driving instructors are no longer allowed to book tests for learner drivers they're not instructing, and companies without instructors cannot make test bookings either. Nonetheless, individuals still have the right to book their own test slots.

Furthermore, organisations that charge administrative fees for making a booking must disclose this at the point of sale. In a significant update aimed at reducing test wait times, learner drivers will now have up to 10 working days to cancel their driving tests without losing the £62 fee – a substantial increase from the previous three-day period.

This change is one of a series developed under a seven-step plan announced by the government and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which also includes a consultation with the driving industry on additional strategies to trim down lengthy queues.

Driving licences

Turning to driving licences, the Government has divulged plans for the introduction of digital driving licences through a new gov. U.K. app set to be released this summer.

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This innovation is designed to streamline access to government services, allowing users to carry various official credentials in a digitally secure "wallet" within the app. The digital wallet initiative will kickoff with a veteran card and advance to a trial phase for digital driving licenses later in the year, incorporating robust smartphone security features like facial recognition akin to those used in mobile payment systems.

While this digital version will be optional, traditional physical licences will remain valid. Regarding sustainable transportation, the upcoming Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate for 2025 mandates that 28 percent of new car sales and 16 percent of new van sales in the UK must be ZEVs, steering the nation towards an eco-friendlier future.