We’ve put together a useful list of all the changes set to take place to help get you up to speed:
- Overtaking Cyclists
Be sure to leave enough room when overtaking a cyclist; The Highway Code says motorists should leave 1.5 metres (about the width of a car door). Failing to leave enough room could result in £100 fine and 3 points on your licence! - Smart Motorway Fines
Driving in a closed lane on a Smart Motorway could see you facing a £100 fine. Lanes shown with a red X in the automated signs above the motorway must be kept clear due to a blockage or accident and it’s expected that the government will announce a £100 fine and 3 penalty points if the lane closure if ignored. - Newly Qualified Drivers
At the moment new drivers face harsher penalties in their first 2 years of passing but it’s expected that more restrictions could come in to force. The RAC predicts these restrictions will focus on curfews (times new drivers will be permitted on the roads), limit the number of passengers the new driver is allowed to have, enforcing separate and lower speed limits to other drivers, limiting the engine size they can drive, introducing mandatory P plates and introducing lower alcohol limits. A pilot scheme for graduated licences is going to be trialled in Northern Ireland over the next year and if successful it could rollout across England. - New MOT Rules
In 2018 the MOT test was overhauled and new categories were introduced (Dangerous, Major, Minor, Advisory and Pass). Further requirements are being included in the test such as checking for under inflated tyres, contaminated brake fluid, brake pad warning lights and missing brake pads or disks, reversing lights (cars newer than September 2009) and daytime running lights (cars newer than March 2018). Remember, driving without a valid MOT could result in a fine for £1000!
It’s up to all courier drivers to make sure their vehicle is roadworthy and passes all the legal requirements. Keep up-to-date with all the latest changes to road laws and MOT tests, head to the Gov.uk website and The Highway Code.