Driving law changes set to launch later this year could see some British motorists forced off the road

However, new rules are set to be launched following the conclusion of a Government consultation last year which looked at where CPC rules should be scrapped.

While they will not be scrapped, changes will be made to make the process more flexible for people who only in drive in the UK, namely how they can stay qualified and how they can return to professional driving.

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​While these changes are subject to Parliamentary approval later this year, it is assumed they will be accepted and taken forward.

Drivers will be able to stay qualified through either the International Driver CPC or the National Driver CPC.

International Driver CPC will be the new name for the current operations of Driver CPC, with motorists required to take 35 hours of training every five years to be allowed to drive in the EU and the UK.

Courses must be at least seven hours long, completed on two consecutive days and e-learning in a trainer-led course is limited to two hours.

​They will also be able to do a total of 12 hours of e-learning towards their overall 35 hours of training.

National Driver CPC will be a more flexible version of the existing rules with drivers able to either take 35 hours of training every five years or a combination of 35 hours of National and International training.

For those who want to return to professional driving, rules are also changing, meaning they will not be required to take 35 hours of training again.

From 2025, if someone's International or National Driver CPC has expired between 60 days and two years, they will have three options.

Option one: This requires drivers to take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training. They will then be able to start driving professionally again in the UK and EU.

Option two: Take a new seven-hour ‘return to driving’ training module and start driving professionally again in the UK. They could also take 28 hours of other International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the "return to driving" module.

Option three: The final option allows motorists to take a new seven-hour "return to driving" training module, start driving professionally again in the UK and take a further 28 hours of National Driver CPC or International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the "return to driving" module.

If their International or National Drivers CPC expired more than two years ago, they will still need to take 35 hours of designated training before they can drive again.

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The Government also clarified that it intends to consult on the possibility of introducing a new National Driver CPC periodic theory test.