New Law Means You Could Be Fined £200 For Driving Mistake

A number of changes in driving laws will come into effect in 2022, which could lead to steeper fines and hidden charges.

One of the newest changes sees a loophole about using your mobile phone behind the wheel closed, giving police more powers to easily prosecute drivers.

Currently, it is illegal to make a phone call using a hand-held device while driving.

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However, from 1^st January, new laws come into effect which will also make it illegal for drivers to using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games.

This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence.

Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, but only if it’s secured in a cradle where it cannot move.

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Drivers are also warned they must always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.

Other changes will also include giving councils more powers to issue fines to motorists.

Under the "moving traffic" offences local authorities will be able to punish drivers for include stopping in yellow box junctions and performing bad turns.

New powers will mean almost 300 councils in England will be able to apply for the right to issue these penalties as well.

There may also be plans to implement a countrywide ban on pavement parking.

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Law that has already been passed in Scotland and will be implemented in 2023 may be brought in in England next year.

Parking on the pavement is already illegal in London but changes to the law are expected in 2022 that will give local councils across England and Wales the power to issue £70 fines to those who mount the kerb.

The proposed blanket ban to prevent motorists blocking pavements for parents with pushchairs, those with limited mobility and anyone reliant on guide dogs.

You can read more on the DVLA website here.

Topics: Travel, News

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley