With over 300 rules to the Highway Code and multiple laws beneath the Department for Transport, there’s always something to look out for when you’re on the road.
Remembering where you put your car keys can be a challenge in the first place, never mind the latest highway customs which you might not be fully aware of!
In this blog, we will provide a timely refresh of the most notable laws to come into effect in recent times, along with one or two potential new ones in the pipeline.
As always, First Stop is here to keep you as safe as can be, whilst simultaneously diverting you away from potential fines and points on your licence.
- Hierarchy of the Road
In 2022, the Highway Code was changed to reflect a road hierarchy, where it’s now a car driver’s responsibility to be more aware of vulnerable road users. For example, when a car makes its way towards a junction and encounters a pedestrian, then they should let them cross and pay necessary care and attention. It might sound obvious, but some motorists forget that there is a hierarchy of road users, and it can be seen below:
- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Horse riders
- Motorcyclists
- Cars/taxis
- Vans/minibuses
- Large passenger vehicles/heavy goods vehicles
- Put your mobile phone away!
Again, it’s a blatantly obvious thing to state but the message often goes unheeded, which is why stricter rules have been put into place.
In 2022, tougher measure were put in place, including a £200 fixed penalty notice, 6 points on your licence and, potentially, a driving ban altogether.
If you’re still guilty of unlocking your phone and illuminating the screen, then you could be in trouble. And this still applies when using a device while stationary at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.
Whether you’re, checking the time, making a call to a friend, sending a text message or an email, taking photos or having a quick scroll of the internet, you’re liable.
Our advice would simply be: Don’t do it – and put it away.
- Electric Vehicles (EVs) Road Tax Implementation
You might well have seen this one in the news – and it’s no April Fools’.
From April 1st, 2025, electric vehicle owners will have to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). The details are:
- EVs registered from April 1st, 2025, onwards: £10 for the first year, and then £195 annually.
- EVs registered between April 1st 2017 and March 31st 2025: £195 annually.
- EVs registered between March 1st 2001 and March 31st 2017: £20 annually.
Additionally, EVs registered on or after April 1st 2025 with a list price exceeding £40,000, will be subject to something called the Expensive Car Supplement, which is £410 per year for the first five years.
- Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles to pay the congestion charge
While we commend anyone driving an EV or hydrogen vehicle for their commitment to the environment, we must remind them that this doesn’t make them exempt from London’s Congestion Charge.
From Christmas Day 2025, such vehicles will have to pay the full £15 fee. (This change effectively comes into effect from January 2nd, 2026 as there is no Congestion Charge between December 25th and January 1st)
- Fuel duty freeze continues
It’s not all bad news. It’s worth remembering (quite literally!) that the Government’s fuel duty freeze continues in 2025 and 2026, with the existing 5p discount remaining, keeping fuel duty at 52.95p per litre.
- Revised urban area speed limits
It goes without saying that you should always keep an eye on the speed limit, but we know that old habits can be hard to shift.
Historically, urban areas are subject to a blanket 30mph limit, with one look at the streetlights on the pavements enough to remind you how fast you should be driving. But starting in 2025, a number of urban areas will opt for a 20 mph limit. Please be mindful of this, for the sake of other road users, your licence and your pocket.
It’s worth remembering that speed limits will vary from city to city, so it’s essential to be mindful of this and to look out for the signage.
- Potential £70 fines from local authorities
If you adhere to the Highway Code then there shouldn’t be too much to worry about here, but it is worth repeating in case!
Councils could soon be allowed to issue £70 fines under ‘moving traffic’ offences. For example, if you’re caught in a yellow box causing an obstruction to other road users, then you could qualify for the fine. Watch
- Clean Air Zones (CAZ) Expansion (2022-2025):
If you drive an older car and you’re heading to Bristol, Bath or other cities with Clean Air Zones, you might have to pay a daily charge.
To check your vehicle’s status, visit here: 🔗 Check your vehicle online
- Road tax changes
Road tax, otherwise known as Vehicle Excise Duty, is going to go up, although we don’t know by how much yet.
It’s set to rise in line with the retail price index measure of inflation in April, the new rates have not been confirmed at the time of writing. As before, the price will most likely depend on your vehicle’s CO2 emissions. In other words, the more CO2 your car emits the higher the bill. You can find out how much you’re currently paying here >
- Graduated Driving Licences
We’re not there with this one yet, but there’s more and more noise around this item.
A graduated driving licence aims to keep new drivers safer on the road, with a series of curfews to adhere to. These might well include a limit on passengers and mandatory probationary plates to be displayed for a set amount of time. As of 2025, no nationwide law has been put into effect, but talks are still on the table and if we had to make a prediction, then we’d say that the odds are in favour of graduated licences.