February is bringing a wave of new driving laws and road changes that motorists need to be aware of. Drivers should brace themselves for fresh legislation this month, which could impact everything from their driving licences to parking habits.
The updates encompass amendments for electric vehicle (EV) owners, consultations on driving licences, and revised guidelines for road regulations. Here’s a rundown of the key changes set to roll out in February 2025:.
1. Electric vehicle decisions due
The Labour government under Keir Starmer has decided to reverse the previous administration’s postponement of the ban on petrol and diesel car sales until 2035. Consequently, no new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will be sold in the UK after 2030, a move that some have criticised as “a step too far”.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander commented: “the need to transition away from a reliance on fossil fuels has never been clearer, and the transition to zero-emission vehicles will play a critical role in quickly reducing carbon emissions and improving our energy security.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The government is also running a consultation to “consider stakeholders’ preferences on technology choices and the types of vehicles permitted between 2030 and 2035 alongside ZEVs”.
2. New traffic fines introduced
To improve road safety for all users, new regulations are expected to come into force. It has been proposed during the consultation to add 13 fixed penalty offences to schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offender Act 1988 (RTOA 1988).
These will be incorporated into the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) regulations, listing fixed penalty offences that provide educational courses as an alternative to prosecution. 3.
3. Driving test booking changes proposed
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has invited drivers and driving professionals to share their views on the new test booking system. There’s still time to submit evidence of your opinions on modifications to the existing rules and procedures for scheduling a car driving test.
The DVSA’s consultation will conclude on February 11. It should take less than 15 minutes to complete and closes at 11:59pm on 11 February 2025.
So far, over 7,700 individuals have contributed their perspectives to help shape the future consultation on how the car driving test booking process could be enhanced. 4.
4. Pavement parking bans enforced
Edinburgh was the first city in Scotland to enforce a ban on pavement parking, effective from January 29, 2024. Motorists who park on the kerb will be subject to a £100 fine from the city council, which will be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
The local authorities were granted these new powers following an amendment to the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. Consequently, parking on dropped kerbs and double parking are prohibited for all drivers, with the exception of some delivery drivers.
Glasgow has launched its own crackdown on pavement parking this week, prompting MPs in the House of Commons to call for England’s laws to be aligned with Scotland’s. Currently, only London has specific pavement parking legislation.
5. Private parking firm regulations
Motorists now have a new window of opportunity to avoid parking penalties after private firms pledged to revise their code of practice. A five-minute grace period for drivers to pay for parking might be extended under proposed regulations.
The British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) have declared the formation of a new panel to overhaul the code to guarantee it “protects genuine motorists who have difficulty making prompt payment on entry”.
The updated regulations are set to be implemented by February 2025. IPC chief executive Will Hurley commented: “The creation of the panel shows the commitment the industry has to improving the reputation of our sector. We must not forget the valuable service we provide to ensure the vast majority of people can park when and where they need to.”
RAC’s senior policy officer Rod Dennis commented on the proposed changes, saying: “The fact that the private parking industry is already having to review its own code, just months after it was introduced, shows it’s not working in drivers’ interests.”
He commented: “This is yet another reason why the launch of the long-overdue official Private Parking Code of Practice, that became law five years ago, is very much needed. We fear that without this, drivers who use private car parks will continue to be worse off.”
6. Driving licence extensions for Ukrainians
The Labour Party-led government and the Department for Transport have started an open consultation to gather opinions on a proposal to prolong the Ukraine driving licence exchange by an additional 18 months. Should this proposal be implemented, it would extend the validity period of a Ukrainian driving licence to 54 months from when the holder becomes a resident.
Similar proposals put forward in 2023 received swift approval after 99 per cent supported an extension and 89 per cent agreed that it should last for 36 months.