Yahoo News UK driving laws set to change in July including 'mandatory' speed limiters and parking rules
A number of driving laws are set to change in the UK from next month. One of the most talked about is the new 'mandatory' speed limiters which will be introduced as part of new European law.
The limiters will be retrofitted to all vehicles in car showrooms and will need to be turned off every time the driver gets into the car. Other rule changes include a grace period on car parking.
A clear appeals process is also part of the new rules along with a £100 cap on fines. And if Labour win the General Election on July 4, they have pledged to bring down the price of fuel.
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As a result, drivers have been told that it may be best to wait until then to fill up their tanks, The Express reports. Scroll down to read more about the new driving laws.
Mandatory speed limiters
A new EU law is being introduced from July 6 which means all cars and vans sold after this date will be forced to have a mandatory speed limiter installed. The speed limiter will read the speed limit of the road and automatically brake the car if the speed limit is broken.
They can be deactivated by pressing the accelerator - a bit like deactivating cruise control - but they can’t be fully disabled, and will restart every time you drive the car. Cars manufactured before July 7 but sold after July 7 must have one ‘retrofitted’ before you can drive it away.
Though the law is EU, it applies to all European countries so the UK is still affected.
Car parking
Rules on car parks are changing. The British Parking Association has introduced a new set of rules for private car parks in the UK. Among these is a 10 minute ‘grace period’ which parking wardens must give drivers before they can slap a ticket on a car.
The rules also include a clear appeals process and a £100 cap on fines.
Petrol
A new law on petrol sales has been passed and it is hoped it will be up and running shortly after the election, whichever party wins. The law will allow the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) to monitor prices in real time and update drivers on the cheapest price for petrol every 30 minutes.
It will also give government greater powers to monitor and take action against ‘rip off’ fuel prices which have seen retailers cream off high margins at the pump, to the expense of drivers.
General Election
The General Election takes place on July 4. Current polls show a clear Labour majority, which means Labour will be taking charge of all things motoring from July 4 in all likelihood. One of the party’s first tasks will be to implement the new petrol law (above) and try to drive prices down at the pumps, so it could be worth waiting before your next fill-up.
