UK driving laws: All the driving rules coming into force in 2024

As we usher in a new year, there are some changes on the horizon for drivers in Cambridgeshire and across the country. With new driving rules around safety and fuel, it is best to know about them ahead of time.

From January 1, under the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate (ZEV), car manufacturers will need at least 22 per cent of their car sales to be fully electric. This is part of government plans to increase the percentage of electric vehicles sold over time, so that by 2030, 80 per cent of cars sold are electric.

Other plans include making all lorries over 12 tonnes have a three-star rating or fit a progressive Safe System in the vehicle from October 28, 2024 in London. HGVs will also be required to hold a safety permit before entering and using the areas covered by the safety permit scheme.

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The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) plan for 2024 includes some changes to the eyesight test. It’s worth keeping an eye out to see if the method in which eyesight is tested changes in future.

Here’s a breakdown of everything we know so far about any driving rules coming into effect in 2024.

More electric cars for sale

From New Year’s Day, more car and van sales will have to be fully electric. The target is 22 per cent of sales under the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate to help reduce emissions.

Car makers who don’t hit this target in 2024 will be fined £15,000 per car and £9,000 per van. You may find increasing numbers of electric cars in the market with better deals.

The government plans to increase the sale of electric cars over time so that by 2030, 80 per cent of cars sold are electric. This is to stay in line with the promise to ban the sale of diesel and petrol cars by 2035.

Eyesight test changes

If you can read a number plate from 20 metres away, you pass the DVSA’s eyesight test. However, as part of their plans for 2024, this test might change.

The DVSA is consulting a medical panel on how the new testing procedure should look – potentially making the test method more flexible and to test the driver’s eyes under different lights. There are also plans to slash waiting times for practical car tests to seven weeks or less by March.

Safety rules for HGVs in London

Transport for London (TfL) have announced plans to introduce a safety permit scheme and a Direct Vision Standard (DVS). It mandates heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to have a safety permit before entering most parts of Greater London.

A star rating based on the DVS will be assigned to vehicles which measures how much of the road and surroundings a driver can see through their cab windows, ensuring visibility.

From October 28, all lorries over 12 tonnes must have a three-star rating or fit a progressive Safe System in the vehicle if they wish to keep driving and operating in Greater London.

HGVs will be required to hold a safety permit before using the areas covered by the HGV safety permit scheme. You can apply for the permit for free.

Fuel duty freeze

We can look to the Spring Budget in 2024 to see whether the fuel duty freeze may end next year. Fuel duty has been frozen since 2011 in order to prevent its rise with inflation.

The basic rate on diesel and petrol has been 52.95 pence per litre according to the Office for Budget Responsibility . This also includes the five pence per litre cut the government has granted until the end of March 2024 to help with the cost of living crisis.

E-scooter trial to end

E-scooter trials have been conducted up and down the country, in order to survey the future of commuting. It was originally due to end on November 20, 2022 but it was extended in order to gather more data.

Cambridge is under the Voi electric bike and scooter trial, with around 50 bikes and 300 scooters on the streets of the city under the trial from 2020.

Now May 31, 2024, will be the date the e-scooter trial finishes. We can expect more news on the government’s plans for the future of e-scooters after this date.

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