Tag Archive: driving

  1. Changes to Motoring Law We Should Expect in 2020

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    In 2020, we can expect to see some changes to the law regarding road traffic and motoring. We’ve outlined some of them below, allowing you to stay informed and alter any driving habits to avoid incurring fines or penalties whilst you’re on the road.

     

    Smart motorways

    The new smart motorway network is expected to cover 488 miles by April, bringing with it some changes that motorists need to be aware of in order to use these motorways safely.

    With speed cameras in operation on each lane of the smart motorway, there are already fines issued to motorists who exceed the speed limit. However, this year may see the enforcement of stronger penalties, and motorists could expect to receive a fine for driving in a closed lane also.

     

    Intelligent speed assist

    New this year, car models in the UK are to be fitted with intelligent speed assist (ISA) systems. Developed for the safety of drivers and passengers on the road, the technology features smart cameras which observe and interpret road signs in order to adjust the vehicle’s operation, including limiting the speed that the vehicle is able to reach.

    ISA systems are set to become mandatory features in new cars from 2022, with some car manufacturers proposing to introduce them to their production line sooner. Others, such as Volvo, have announced that, from this year, all new cars will have a top speed capability restricted to 112mph.

     

    Restricted access zones

    In the interests of reducing the country’s carbon emission figures, a new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was introduced to Central London in April of last year. This saw restrictions being placed on certain high-emission vehicles, and the plan is for the zone to be extended to encompass all of inner London next year. The ULEZ replaces the T-charge scheme and involves drivers of high-emission vehicles having to pay a charge in order to drive within the zone.

    Similar Ultra Low Emission Zones are said to be under consideration for introduction this year to a number of cities around the UK, including Leeds, Newcastle, Cardiff and Edinburgh, with a confirmed ULEZ being launched in Birmingham this July.

     

    EU driving permits

    With Britain set to leave the EU, government guidelines have warned drivers that they may need an international driving permit in order to drive legally whilst abroad in EU countries following Brexit.

     

    Pavement parking bans

    A ban on pavement parking has been in place in London for over 40 years. However, over the course of this year and next, motorists are to expect the ban to be rolled out further across the UK, potentially with stricter penalties in place.

     

    DRN Solicitors – Experts in Road Traffic Law

    The Road Traffic Department at DRN Solicitors accept instructions from across the United Kingdom. Keith Rennison explains: “Perhaps unsurprisingly, clients want to instruct a firm they know and trust, rather than an unknown quantity. Our fee earners have advanced special reasons and exceptional hardship arguments nationwide. In an area that is not often covered by Legal Aid, people want to pay for an expert service. Our solicitors have decades of experience between them and can provide honest and efficient advice.”

    If you are at risk of disqualification for repeated offences, speak to a qualified lawyer today. S35(1) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 sets out the minimum periods of disqualification for repeated offences. If the penalty points to be taken into account number 12 or more a minimum disqualification will follow unless the court is satisfied, having regard to all the circumstances, that there are grounds for mitigating the normal consequences of the conviction. The court can order an offender be disqualified for a shorter period or not at all.

    “If there are mitigating circumstances, the court does not necessarily have to disqualify for the minimum period. This can mean that there is no disqualification, or one that is shorter than the minimum.”

     

    Need assistance? Call us today on 01282 433241 for further advice.

  2. Driving in the EU after Brexit – Our Advice

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    Of all the areas of the law that may affect us in the UK after Brexit, one you may never have considered is changes to driving regulations within the EU. While currently we can drive from the UK to other EU countries, after Brexit there may be changes to the way we enter countries outside of our own.

    Changes to the driving license requirements for all UK drivers after Brexit

    Although currently you can drive anywhere within the EU as long as you have a valid UK driving license, when driving abroad from 29 March 2019, all drivers heading outside of the UK may need a different international driving permit (IDP) to drive abroad.

    This permit will ensure that you are legally able and allowed to drive on non-UK roads, and may form part of the documentation needed for border crossings.

    If the UK leaves the EU under a “no deal” Brexit, extra documentation may also be required for any UK citizens travelling to another European country. Currently the exact documentation required has not been explicitly revealed, but it may include your passport or another form of official ID.

    Driving in the EU as a UK driver after Brexit

    After Brexit there are a number of legal requirements that you may need to take into consideration before heading off in your car to the EU from the UK.Add a GB sticker to your car

    Add a GB sticker to your car

    If you have  GB signifier on your registration plate, you are already covered. However, if your number plate simply has an EU national identifier, you may need to add a GB sticker in order to show that your registration is a UK one.Ensure you are insured

    Ensure you are insured

    The motoring Green Card is your motor insurance evidence, used in countries outside of EU and the Green Card-free zone (including Switzerland and Serbia). In the event of a no deal Brexit, the UK may leave the Green Card-free zone, meaning you will be required to carry your Green Card in order to prove your motor insurance is valid.

    Keep your vehicle registration documents handy

    If you’re travelling outside of the UK for less than 12 months and the UK leaves the EU with no deal, you may be required to carry your vehicle registration documents with you. Read this page on vehicle registration documents to find out more.

    Are you a bus, lorry, goods vehicle or coach driver?

    If you drive between the UK and the EU for work, there is specific information available to you to help understand what may be needed after Brexit. The UKGov website has specific pages relating to drivers who travel between the UK and the EU for work, so please check out the official information for more:

    What to do if you are a UK national living in the EU

    According to the UKGov website, if you are a UK licence holder living in the EU or EEA you should exchange your UK driving licence for a local EU driving licence before 29 March 2019.

    If you don’t exchange your license you may experience delays or setbacks such as:

    • Having to pass a required driving test in the country you live in
    • Longer processing times and delays closer to the Brexit period

    Remember: You can use your EU driving license in the UK, and you can exchange your EU license for a UK one should you wish to do so. Restrictions may apply based on where you passed your test.

    If you need to exchange your UK driving licence for an EU or EEA driving licence, the official advice is to do so as soon as possible to avoid any delays. You can apply to exchange your licence here.

    Keep up-to-date

    We’ve tried to give you as much information as we can on what the laws will be around driving from the UK and the EU after Brexit, however this information is subject to change. This is because different deals or a no deal Brexit will alter the regulations and laws brought in as Brexit develops.

    The government’s Brexit updates website is regularly updated with any changes for your reference and we advise referring to the official UKGov website for in-depth information on any of these developments.

  3. David Leach Secures No Ban For Drink Driving Offence In Case of R v JH

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    Client Keeps his driving licence following the crown offering no evidence in relation to offences of; Driving with Excess Alcohol, No Licence and No Insurance. These offences were substituted with a single offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle where the level of alcohol exceeded the prescribed limit.

    The case involved a witness seeing a male and female driving a motor vehicle, both whom appeared to be under the influence of drink. The police were called and after the witness followed the two suspect for some distance the police arrived at the scene where the vehicle had parked up. The police arrested the male and took the female home.

    The witness who initially reported the incident and followed the vehicle lost sight of the vehicle for some time. When she located the vehicle sometime later the male was no longer in the driving seat. Two police officers arrived at the scene and their evidence was somewhat contradictory to each other, together with the break in the sighting of the vehicle, the crown could not be sure that the defendant, who denied driving or having any connection with the vehicle, was the same male who was seen close to the vehicle where it was parked.

    Although the defendant received a financial penalty and 10 points on his licence, he managed to keep his driving licence, had he been convicted of the driving with excess alcohol offence he would have been disqualified from driving for a period of 14 – 18 months.

    DRN Solicitors is committed to working within the law to help you contest any charges of motoring and driving offences and keep your licence so you can stay on the road.

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