DRIVERS could be hit with penalties and even points on their license if they’re not aware of some of the changes coming into place this year.

Some motorists might not have been behind the wheel much over the past year which is why it’s important to gen up on all the new measures

Coming into force is new guidance on smart motorways as well as tougher penalties for using a mobile phone while driving.

There’s also a new cleaner petrol known as E10 on the way which will seriously impact those who have older cars.

We explain everything you need to know about the new changes.

Motorway changes

Motorway speed limits are being slashed to 60 mph in an attempt to cut down on air pollution.

Speeds have been reduced on sections of the M1, M6, and M5.

So in these areas you’ll have to watch how fast you’re going with the new changes in place as you could still face a penalty for not sticking to the directed speeds.

Highways England has said it will keep the new speed limits in place for the “foreseeable future” until the pollution falls below the limit.

The only other way to subvert the emissions and return to the previous speeds is if more electric vehicles join the road.

There are stricter rules on smart motorways too.

The hard shoulder is used as a running lane on smart motorways which means there’s no dedicated space for drivers to pull into if there’s an emergency.

In response, Highways England announced changes to the Highway Code, making it illegal to drive in a lane marked with a red X.

It’s usually indicated this way because a vehicle has broken down in the hard shoulder, and so drivers shouldn’t drive down it or they could come into difficulty.

E10 fuel introduced

This summer the standard or premium petrol grade in the UK will become E10.

It’s being introduced to work towards cleaner air and to cut CO2 emissions.

But it could costs drivers more in the long run.

The new fuel only works for certain cars too so you’ll need to check yours fits the bill.

Seatbelt clampdown

You could be slapped with penalty points if you fail to wear a seatbelt under new road safety plans.

Motorists could get at least three points and a possible driving ban under changes being considered.

The change is part of a road safety clampdown plan set to be published this year.

You might even get the penalty if you’re wearing a seatbelt but your passenger isn’t.

As it stands, drivers can be given a £100 fine for failing to wear a belt – raising to £500 if the matter goes to court.

Or you take an online seatbelt awareness course for £53 to save on the fine.

MPs fear the £100 fine does not deter drivers enough from flouting the rules which is why stricter measures are due to come into place.

E10 petrol is already widely used around the world, including across Europe, the US and Australia.

You will be able to use the fuel in the UK by September 2021.

The change in fuel only applies to petrol – diesel fuel will not be changing.

It is believed that the switch is the equivalent of taking up to 350,000 cars off the road and reduce CO2 emissions by 750,000 tonnes per year.

20mph limit in residential areas

A new law is being introduced in Wales that limits speed in residential areas to 20mph.

The limit is set to launch in eight areas to begin with and could be rolled out nationally in two years time.

During the pandemic a similar initiative took place in areas across England with the goal of rolling it out to London, Warwickshire and Shropshire.

Stricter penalties if you use your phone

A loophole has been closed that meant people could get away with taking photos or videos while driving.

Now you could get a £200 fine and six points on your licence if you’re caught holding your phone or using it as a sat nav while you’re driving.

You definitely can’t get caught scrolling through a playlist, playing a game or using social media either.

You can also be fined heavily for vaping behind the wheel or if you fail to disclose certain medical conditions to the DVLA.

Low Emission Zones introduced

Lots of built up towns and cities already have low emission zones in place charging vehicles with high emissions to enter.

They’re usually found in areas that have high levels of pollution.

Oxford’s Zero Emissions Zone will start next month and from October 25 London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone will extend to North Circular Road (A406) and the South Circular Road (A205).

Birmingham’s Low Emission Zone is now active as is Bath’s and Bristol’s.

To get into Bath for free, Your diesel vehicle must be Euro 6 and petrol vehicles must be Euro 4 minimum to get into Bath or Birmingham for free, or if you ride a moped or motorcycle .

In Bristol you’re charged around £9 to enter the zone if your diesel vehicle is Euro 5 or older or your petrol vehicle is Euro 3 or older.

Changes to the Highway code

There’s due to be a  change to 33 existing rules in the Highway Code this year as well as adding two new rules.

The main takeaway of the changes is that the new version will include a “hierarchy of road users”.

It means that pedestrians will have priority on pavements and at zebra crossings.

So under the new rules drivers will have to give way at a zebra crossing until a pedestrian has moved onto the crossing.

Previously motorists turning into a road at a junction would only have to give way to pedestrians “if they have started to cross”.

It also means motorists who can cause the most harm in a collision bear the “greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others”.

So, a lorry driver would have a greater responsibility to those driving a car or motorcycle, and cyclists would have a greater responsibility than pedestrians.

Proposed changes to the Highway Code are due to receive parliamentary approval in the autumn.

Regardless though, the Highway code on its own is not law.

Speed limiters will be mandatory

Speed limiters will be mandatory in new cars from next year.

The technology alerts drivers if they’re going too fast and if you don’t slow down then it will act on your behalf.

It’s known as an Intelligent Speed Assistant system (ISA) and you’ll need to have one if you get yourself some new wheels in 2022.

Cars on the road currently don’t have to have one of these but they are considered a great safety precaution.

There are circumstances where the limiter can be overridden.

These can be if you step on the gas harder when you’re overtaking or if you simply turn it off.

Hundreds of petrol-heads flouted social distancing rules to watch souped-up motors parade through a Sainsbury’s car park in Leeds. Flash cars drove through the area in Alwoodley on Saturday night, with residents complaining to West Yorkshire police after roads became blocked. Officers arrived to break the gathering up but no arrests were made.

The event came after messages advertising the meet had been shared  around social media and the scene has been described as looking like a ‘car showroom’.

Social distancing rules put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic specifically prohibit mass gatherings. One resident who did not want to be named said: ‘The speed some of these people going it’s a 20mph zone all around this estate.

Our neighbours who have a four-year-old were concerned about the noise these type of cars make, they are so loud.’I’m disappointed really that police blocked Homebase entrance and not Moor Allerton Centre entrance.

Sainsburys is still open and their car park is rammed. It would be great to attend the event and look at the cars but it’s not correctly organised or policed.’

Videos show sports cars can be seen driving at high speeds in the car park and there were also been reports of speeding in the area, which has a speed limit of 20mph.

West Yorkshire Police officers were at the scene blocking the entrance for further vehicles.

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• Ministers have indicated that they are prepared to hand controversial powers to councils to enforce civil penalties for minor driving offences
• Enforcing the rules is currently the job of the police but they rarely take formal action over so-called moving traffic violations
• This could bring the whole of England into line with London where local transport officials already use traffic cameras to issue penalty notices

Motorists face the threat of new automatic £130 fines imposed by cash-hungry councils under Government plans to give priority to cyclists and pedestrians after the pandemic.

Ministers have signalled that they are prepared to give controversial powers to councils to enforce civil penalties for minor driving offences such as straying into cycle lanes or stopping in box junctions. Enforcing the rules is currently the job of the police but they rarely take formal action over so-called moving traffic violations.

But to help councils fund and operate new cycle lanes and other traffic-reduction measures after the pandemic, Ministers are preparing to hand over legal powers of enforcement to local government officials.

The change would bring the whole of England into line with London where local transport officials currently use traffic cameras to issue more than a million penalty notices every year.

Fines in the capital are set at £130 for each offence. The move would mark a retreat from the Government’s previous position when Ministers refused to hand councils such powers, fearing they would treat motorists as cash-cows.

Junior Transport Minister Baroness Vere told the House of Lords that the Government was looking at giving councils enforcement powers under the 2004 Traffic Management Act.

It comes as the coronavirus crisis prompts plans for a dramatic expansion of cycling and walking to reduce the use of public transport in towns and cities.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps recently announced a £2billion package to fund new cycle lanes, wider pavements and safer junctions, but cycling campaigners and council chiefs say tougher enforcement of traffic laws is also required.

Both groups have long lobbied Ministers to activate Section 6 of the Traffic Act, which covers relatively minor violations such as driving in cycle lanes, disregarding one-way systems or box junction markings, and failing to give priority to oncoming traffic.

The Department for Transport announced on 25 March that all cars, vans and motorcycles which usually would require an MOT will be exempted from needing a test for six months from 30 March onwards. Drivers were told they would be held responsible for ensuring their vehicles remained roadworthy during the test extension, else face fines of £2,500 if caught at the wheel of an unsafe car post lockdown.

Only frontline workers reliant on their motors to get to and from work were told to continue having their vehicles tested during the strict restrictions to ensure their cars were safe to continue using on a daily basis.

The most MOTs were carried out in in the Birmingham area with 21,324 drivers taking their vehicles in for a test in April, and 18,170 assessments were carried out by garages in the Sheffield postcode area last month.

Perth in Central Scotland saw the biggest drop in MOTs last month, with tests down 86 per cent compared to March. Inverness saw 86 per cent fewer MOTs in April compared to the month previous.

Alex Buttle, director of Motorway.co.uk, said it was ‘surprising’ to see that three quarters of a million inspections had been carried out last month despite the government’s six-month MOT-test holiday

‘These figures from the DVSA show that despite motorists having the opportunity to postpone their MOT test, many have chosen not to do so, ‘ he explained.

‘Many garages are still open for MOTs, and anyone driving an older vehicle, which tend to be more susceptible to problems due to wear and tear, might be wise to take their car in close to the original MOT date to give it a full check and service.

‘It will give them the peace of mind that it’s in good condition and mechanically sound at the present time.

‘And if owners are looking to protect the value of their car for selling in the future, then a heavily-delayed MOT may be an issue for some buyers.’

Recommendation is a good place to look for an instructor or driving school. If someone you know suggests an instructor, ask them how reliable and professional they were.

You can also search online, most reputable driving schools will have a review section on their website from former students and maybe photographs of recent pupil passes.

Instructors will not be so easy to evaluate, do your homework! All instructors in the UK by law must be licensed by the DVSA (Driving and Vehicle standards Agency).

Also, instructors must undertake a DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) this is to make sure they are safe to work with teenagers.

Prices will vary from Driving School to driving School, make sure you find out the prices before you embark on lessons, you may be having lessons for quite a while.The majority of driving Schools and instructors offer your first lesson at a discounted rate, ask about discounted lessons if you pre – pay in A bulk of ten or twelve.

The top complaint about  driving instructor’s is paying in advance, receipts Should be given for all payments, ensure you are fully aware of discounts, deals and the cancellation policy.

Learning to drive can be an unnerving experience for some and this can be exaggerated when you have chosen the wrong instructor. Don’t be afraid to look for the perfect instructor who can help and guide you to the success of gaining not only your full driving licence but safe driving for life!

Safe driving, from Britannia!