Four new UK driving laws quietly rolled out in November and drivers may be unaware

Four driving laws and rule changes for road users have been rolled out in November 2024 - and you may have missed them. The changes affect everything from buying electric vehicles to charging EVs, too, with a major change from the Labour Party government this week alone.

There are also changes for UK tourists out in the European Union using their motors. It comes as Vauxhall is closing a UK factory, putting 1,100 jobs at risk. Owner Stellantis said it planned to shut the plant in Luton and move ­battery van production to Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Boss Carlos Tavares has called the net zero motors policy “damaging”. The Unite union said the decision was a “complete slap in the face”. And Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds ­admitted it was a “very difficult day for Luton”.

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Electric car chargepoints

The one-year deadline for public charge point operators to ensure their devices meet minimum service standards for electric vehicle owners has now passed. Last November, the Government announced that it would be rolling out new regulations for public charging points across the UK for all charge point operators to abide by.

The Department for Transport said it wanted to ensure that the experience of consumers using public chargers across the UK was "consistent and positive" to support the transition to EVs. Charge point operators must ensure that as of today, November 24, 2024, new public charge points of 8kW and above and existing charge points of 50kW and above must offer contactless to consumers.

Charging networks that open their charge points for public use will have one year from the date that the charge point becomes public to offer contactless.

Electric car reliability

Motorists should also see that all rapid charge points have a reliability rate of 99 per cent, measured as an average across each charge point operator's rapid network. Charge point operators must ensure that they publish information about their compliance with the reliability target on their websites.

EV sales

Government eco rules on electric car sales are set to be relaxed after a backlash from car makers. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds ­yesterday announced an emergency consultation over the next few weeks to try to help struggling manufacturers.

Mr Reynolds told an SMMT dinner that the industry was facing its greatest challenge in 50 years, adding: “I don’t believe policies that we inherited are working. I will be candid, I am profoundly concerned by what’s happening at the moment. We get its seriousness and urgency.

“We are absolutely committed to 2030. But at the same time I have decided to consult on the changes . . . so you can make your decisions in January.”

Driving licence changes

A new agreement between the UK Government and Portugal was agreed at the end of the month which allowed for the "mutual recognition for the purpose of driving and exchange of driving licences". The agreement will enter into force 30 days after the date of receipt of the last notification through diplomatic channels that everything has been confirmed.