28 November 2023 , 14:50
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Driving laws can seem hard to keep up with at the best of time, but there have been several legislative changes throughout 2023 that motorists may not be aware of.
Although it's likely many of us haven't been able to stay on top of it all, we could be at risk of falling foul of the rules if we don't know all the laws. Changes have happened in several parts of the UK, including cities like London and Glasgow introducing measures to clean up air.
Hefty fines could await those who fall foul of new curbs, including the capital's controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which saw daily fees imposed on drivers in suburban boroughs like Harrow and Bromley. Protests have been mounted in the city by angry opponents of the scheme, with cameras being cut down ahead of its launch. Scotland's biggest city, Bath, Birmingham and Oxford all now charge some motorists who drive older or less fuel-efficient vehicles for entering certain restricted zones.
Speed limits have also been the subject of major changes, with moves made to make 20mph the standard nationwide limit on residential roads in a safety improvement drive. According to a public health study, the change could cut the number of collisions by 40 per cent, save between six and 10 lives and reduce the number of injuries by 2,000 each year. But with a £32million cost to the public purse expected to come with the move, there is also fierce opposition.
Recent studies have found the driving public to be largely unaware of major new changes. Analysis from the AA discovered that 61 per cent of road users had not read the Highway Code updates introduced in January 2022. Meanwhile, IAMRoadSmart found 20 percent of motorists did not even know the Highway Code had been changed.
'My neighbours parked on my drive so I blocked them in - now they're furious'
So how many of the new changes do you know? Test your knowledge with this quiz, curtesy of Express.co.uk.
1. Which country introduced a national 20mph speed limit in residential areas?
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
2. How much do motorists have to pay per day to drive in London's expanded Ultra Low Emissions Zone?
- £12.50
- £15
- £17.50
3. Which city centre launched a clean air zone affecting HGVs, LGVs, vans and buses, back in February?
- Sheffield
- London
- Peterborough
4. British expats living in which EU country have been embroiled in a debate over driving licences?
- Spain
- France
Answers
1. Wales 2. £12.50 3. Sheffield 4. Spain