The arrival of 2024 has seen a flurry of potential new laws and regulations being either ready to sign into law or under consideration by the government. Each could have a real impact on your driving whether it’s renewed calls for graduated driving licences to surprising speed limit enforcement changes. Here are the top candidates:
Eyesight test
When? Being considered by the DVSA.
What? Currently, you must be able to read a licence plate from 20 metres away, whether you’re stopped by police and requested to do so or as part of your driving test – so long as there is good daylight.
However, there have been increasing calls to tighten up the eyesight test by conducting them in varying conditions instead. While details remain scant on what the precise changes might be, the DVSA is already working with a DVLA Medical Panel to come up with a better, more accurate system, which may include eyesight tests being conducted in lower light levels.
Speeding fines
When? Under consideration.
What? A new law has been proposed that will see anyone travelling between 20 and 30mph in a 20mph zone not being given penalty points on their licence. Under the current system, you can expect three points as well as a fine. For new drivers, the punishment is even tougher – six points on your licence – which means your licence is cancelled and you have to sit your test again.
However, ex-Cabinet Minister Kit Malthouse believes the current punishments are too harsh. His proposed law change would see drivers caught breaking the 20mph speed limit being sent on a speed awareness course instead.
The proposed law has received backing from the AA’s president, Edmund King, who says: “Getting drivers to slow down is vital but in the move to reduce casualties, it is more effective to educate rather than prosecute. [The proposed law] would be a pragmatic step to offer courses to those who contravene 20mph limits.”
“The rollout of 20mph speed limits across the country has brought benefits in terms of road safety, but it has left many thousands of drivers disproportionately punished for straying over the limit.”
• Kit Malthouse MP
Satnav updates
When? 2024.
What? Not strictly a new law but a policy that could help drivers stay on the right side of it. The policy aims to ensure satnavs have the very latest data sets to help drivers when they’re out on the road. In particular, Traffic Regulation Ordinances (TROs) are set to be digitised and made available to satnavs. So what’s a TRO? It’s constantly changing data that highlights, say, road closures, temporary speed limits, and even available parking space locations. The introduction of TROs will mean you’ll always know what’s coming up round the next corner instead of finding yourself caught out.
“Everyone knows the frustrations of being sent down a closed road by your satnav, so by going digital with our traffic information, we’re making sure that drivers have the very latest travel information to rely on.”
• Roads minister Guy Opperman
Graduated driving licences
When? Ongoing.
What? It’s a New Year so inevitably there’s been a renewed call for graduate driving licences. These place restrictions on new drivers such as the number of passengers they can carry in their car. Public health officials are adamant that such restrictions could help to save lives as motorists aged between 17 to 24 are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed than people over the age of 25.
Public Health Wales wants to go even further. As part of its submission to the Welsh government’s road safety strategy consultation, it has called for new drivers to be banned from night driving as well as their drink drive limit to be cut from 80mg per 100ml blood down to 20mg. They’re even calling for a ban on new drivers giving lifts to friends. We’ll have to wait until next month to find out if any of these demands will be seriously considered by the government.
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