Five new driving laws and changes start in UK today
Five driving laws start on UK roads from today - with motorists and road users urged to be aware. Among the shake-up to British streets is the launch of a brand-new parking charter, which will impact those who get behind the wheel nationwide.
Will Hurley, IPC chief executive officer, said the measures contained in the code will create “positive change” across the UK, “enhancing the protection of the most vulnerable in society, whilst creating consistency and clarity for motorists and continuing to elevate standards across the sector”.
But the AA’s head of roads policy, Jack Cousens, said that the new “watered down” code of practice falls “far short of the standards the AA, Government and consumer groups have called for across many years”. “This self-authored code doesn’t acknowledge the need to cap charges and remove debt recovery fees,” he continued.
READ MORE UK faces 66 hours of snow with three places 'worst hit' by flurries
“These elements are desperately needed from a government backed code to protect innocent drivers from the sharks running private car parks.”
Private car parks - signage, grace period, appeals, charges - October 1
A new private parking code has been put together by the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPA). It includes a new 10-minute grace period for motorists, a requirement for operators to have clear signage and maintains a cap on the parking charge at £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Andrew Pester, BPA chief executive, said that the new code was a “key milestone” for the industry, enabling it to deliver “fairer and more consistent parking standards for motorists”. We will continue to push for a positive outcome for all.”
Private car parking companies issue more than 35,000 parking tickets, on average, every day, with analysis from the RAC Foundation showing that at least 9.7 million tickets were issued to drivers in Britain between April and December, last year.
The new rules will also provide “consistent rules for private parking operators” in terms of charges.
Ofgem energy price cap - October 1
The energy price cap rises by 10 percent from today. According to experts at Carmoola, the price of charging an electric car at home will rise from £13.41 to £14.70 - affecting electric vehicle motorists up and down the country.
A small £1.29 increase, over a calendar year, means road users would have spent an £134 more to charge.