Changes for motorists 2020

Changes for UK motorists in 2020

 

London is about to get a whole lot slower. From 2 March 2020, the roads that Transport for London manages within the capital’s Congestion Charging Zone will all have a speed limit of 20mph. Some of these roads already have a 20mph limit, but 5.5 miles’ worth of other roads will have their current limits reduced – including some major thoroughfares, such as Millbank and Blackfriars Road. You can see a full list here.

It’s part of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s ‘Vision Zero’ plan to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London’s transport system by 2041. This is a goal we can all get behind, although, alongside the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) last year, it’s yet more change for motorists travelling through central London. Fleets will have to plan accordingly.

And it’s not the only change scheduled for UK motorists in 2020. Here’s our rundown of some of the other policies affecting the roads we drive on.

New Clean Air Zones

London’s ULEZ is an example of a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) – an area where special action is taken to combat air pollution. More specifically, it’s an example of a charging CAZ, where fees are imposed on the dirtiest vehicles travelling through it. There are also non-charging CAZs, where other measures are deployed to reduce pollution.

A number of other cities, including Bath, Birmingham, Leicester and Leeds, will be following London’s lead and introducing their own CAZs in 2020. These will all differ from each other, in terms of the charges they impose, the vehicles that are affected, and any non-charging measures. You can find more information on our special page about CAZs.

London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which is separate from the ULEZ and covers most of Greater London, will also introduce tougher standards this year for HGVs, buses and coaches.

Mobile phones

A legal loophole around mobile phone use while driving is set to be closed. Currently, the law defines mobile phone “use” as “interactive communication” – meaning that various other forms of activity, such as taking a photo with your phone while driving, aren’t necessarily covered. Parliament’s Transport Select Committee has already called for the definition to be broadened to cover all forms of handheld interaction with a phone; in response, the government has signalled that it will tighten the law this spring.

‘Dutch reach’

The Highway Code is likely to be updated this year to include a recommended manoeuvre called ‘Dutch reach’, which is designed to reduce injuries to cyclists from opening car doors.

Instead of using the hand closest to the door, motorists use the hand that is furthest away, thus turning them towards the window and reminding them to look for any approaching cyclist.

Parking charge grace period

In 2015, council car parks in England introduced a 10-minute “grace period” to spare motorists who were late back to their cars and would otherwise have been fined. The Government is now working to have this policy extended to all private car parks in England, Scotland and Wales, as part of a new Code of Practice for private parking firms.

Graduated driving licence

According to the Department for Transport, one in five new drivers are involved in crashes in their first year. The idea of a Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) is designed to reduce this sorry toll. GDLs place extra restrictions on new motorists, such as not driving at night or with passengers of a certain age. They have already been introduced in Northern Ireland, as well as in countries such as Australia and the US.

The Government last year revealed that it is considering introducing GDLs throughout the UK – and is now reviewing the options. They haven’t yet reached a conclusion, but it’s certainly possible that the new licences could be introduced in 2020.

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