Motorists are being warned about new driving law changes due to be rolled out in the coming days, which could see petrol and diesel motorists hit with heavy driving fines in several major UK cities.
A number of driving laws have already been introduced this year, including new rules for parking cars on pavements, orders for manufacturers to produce a minimum number of electric vehicles and changes to license plates in March.
With the new rules set to be introduced over the next month, GB News rounds up the most important June driving law changes that could affect you.
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Low emission zones
Drivers will see new charges introduced on the first day of June, with three of Scotland’s four major cities starting to charge petrol and diesel motorists for driving within the new low-emission zones.
People driving older, more polluting vehicles will have to pay a daily charge of £60 to drive in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow city centres.
All non-compliant vehicles entering the LEZ across Scotland will be hit with a £60 fine, with the rate doubling for each subsequent breach, capped at £480 for cars and LGVs, while minibuses, buses, coaches and HGVs can face maximum fines. amounting to £980.
Campaigners have been calling for a LEZ in Glasgow for several years
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Minimum criteria include Euro 4 for petrol vehicles (generally registered from 2006), Euro 6 for diesel (registered from September 2015) and Euro VI for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (January 2013 onwards).
Dundee originally introduced its LEZ on 30 May 2022, with a two-year grace period ending on 30 May 2024, giving local residents time to ditch their older, more polluting vehicles in favor of more environmentally friendly cars.
Data from InsureMy found that Edinburgh and Glasgow were forced to introduce LEZ schemes despite having the two cleanest air conditions of 14 major UK cities between 2017 and 2024.
Recent research has found that low-emission zones, like those launched in Scotland, could reduce mental health problems, with higher noise and air pollution leading to more psychotic experiences and depressive symptoms, according to the University of Bristol.
There are over 30 active e-scooter trials in the UK
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E-scooter tests
New changes to tests will be introduced from 1 June 2024 after the Government allows local authorities across the country to issue new Vehicle Special Orders (VSOs).
This could include introducing new rules to change the geography, size of the system’s fleet and measures aimed at “strategic local objectives”.
The government required the new changes to be requested by the end of May, with local authorities given the green light from early June and the VSO due to expire on 31 May 2026.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the general election will be held on July 4
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General election
In May, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the UK would return to the polls on 4 July to decide a new government, with political parties releasing their platform statements during June to win the public vote.
Some parties have already outlined the finer details of plans for motoring, including Conservative proposals and their Driver and Labor Plan to cut car insurance prices.
With parliament now dissolved, any motions to change the law will be suspended until a new government is in place. This also means that all active parliamentary petitions will be suspended.