New driving law changes launching in November could have huge effect on British motorists

The “Plan for Drivers” has also been a massive boost for drivers as the Government aims to end a range of anti-motorist policies.

A number of new driving law changes have been introduced in the last week, with the Department for Transport hoping to make life easier for electric car owners.

WATCH NOW: Transport Secretary Mark Harper pledges to back drivers 

The new rules will ensure most new public chargepoints have contactless payment options, meaning drivers won't need several different apps.

Chargepoint operators will also need to open up their data so drivers can find their nearest charger, see how busy it is and whether they are operational.

Autumn Budget

The Government is expected to unveil new driving legislation in the Autumn Statement on November 22, with all eyes on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

While there haven’t been any indications of what will be included in the Budget, experts are hoping for more details on how the Government will address fuel prices, uptake of EVs and support for fleets.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has pledged to support Britons with the “Plan for Drivers” which includes making roads safer, scrapping anti-motorist rules and cracking down on council fines.

In the March Budget, the Government pledged to extend the fuel duty cut by a further 12 months, helping drivers save £200 a year at a cost of £10billion.

A further boost was given to the Potholes Fund with a £200million investment which could fix the equivalent of up to four million potholes across England.

Fuel standards consultation

On November 10, a consultation on whether to adopt new European Union environmental car rules will end, with drivers being asked to give their opinions.

The consultation questioned whether “GB type approval” should accept Euro 6e emissions standards for cars and LGVs as an alternative to Euro 6d requirements.

This would ensure that any cars on sale in the UK would abide by additional laboratory and on-road test procedures with stronger environmental requirements.

Car manufacturers who sell in the EU and UK have indicated support for the new standards but added that testing against Euro 6d as well shouldn’t be necessary.

Kings Speech

A Government policy document highlights how the Transport Bill was announced in the May 2022 Queen’s Speech but not taken forward.

The original announcement said it would legislate for the installation of more electric vehicle chargers and create a legal footing for the introduction of autonomous or self-driving vehicles.

Ministers suggested that the 2022-2023 session would also legislate to regulate the use of e-scooters, deal with pavement parking and establish a Road Safety Investigation Branch.

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While nothing has formally been announced, there might be a similar bill in the 2023-24 session with similar proposals.