Motorists are being warned of new changes to driving laws due to come into effect in the coming days, which could see petrol and diesel motorists hit with expensive fines for driving in several major British cities.
Numerous driving laws have already been introduced this year, including new rules around parking cars on sidewalks, regulations for manufacturers to build a minimum number of electric vehicles and license plate changes in March.
With the new rules being introduced over the next month, GB News has listed the key changes to June’s driving laws that could affect you.
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Low emission zones
Drivers will see new charges introduced on the first day of June, with three of Scotland’s four major cities set to start charging petrol and diesel motorists for driving as part of the new low emission zones.
People driving older, more polluting vehicles will have to pay a daily surcharge of £60 to drive within the city centers of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
All vehicles entering a LEZ across Scotland will be fined £60, with the rate doubling for each subsequent offence, capped at £480 for cars and LGVs, while minibuses, buses, coaches and lorries face maximum fines . from £980.
Campaigners have been calling for a LEZ in Glasgow for years
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The minimum criteria include Euro 4 for petrol vehicles (generally registered from 2006), Euro 6 for diesel vehicles (registered from September 2015) and Euro VI for buses, coaches and trucks (January 2013 onwards).
Dundee originally introduced its LEZ on May 30, 2022, with a two-year grace period ending on May 30, 2024, giving local residents time to ditch their older, more polluting vehicles for more environmentally friendly cars.
Data from InsureMy shows that Edinburgh and Glasgow were forced to roll out LEZ schemes despite having the two cleanest air ratings of the UK’s 14 major cities between 2017 and 2024.
Recent research has found that low emission zones, such as those in Scotland, can reduce mental health problems, with higher noise and air pollution leading to more psychotic experiences and depression symptoms, according to the University of Bristol.
There are over 30 active e-scooter trials in the UK
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Testing with e-scooters
New changes to the tests will be introduced from June 1, 2024 after the government allowed local authorities across the country to launch new special order vehicles (VSOs).
This could include the introduction of new rules to change the geography and fleet size of the scheme, and measures to focus on “strategic local objectives”.
The government required new changes to be requested by the end of May, with local authorities given the green light from early June and the VSOs set to expire on May 31, 2026.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the general election would take place on July 4
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General election
In May, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that Britain would go back to the polls on July 4 to decide the new government, with political parties setting out their manifestos in June to get the public’s vote.
Some parties have already outlined minor details of plans relating to driving, including the Conservatives and their Plan for Drivers and Labour’s proposals to reduce the price of car insurance.
Now that Parliament has been dissolved, progress on any proposed changes to the law will be halted until the new government is introduced. This also means that all active petitions from Parliament are suspended.