Page 20 - PA_Enterprise_March_2022

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Driving licences to be taken off drug users
In December 2021, the prime minister
announced that passports and driving licences
could be removed from illegal drug users.
The government could also introduce harsher
sentences for offenders. This is part of a wider
10-year plan to tackle illegal drug-related
crime.
Self-driving cars allowed on UK roads
Automatic Lane Keeping Systems
(ALKS) keep cars in lane automatically at low
speeds. And for the first time, drivers will be
able to delegate control of the vehicle.
In 2021, the government announced that
ALK systems are an example of ‘self-driving’
vehicle technology.
The Association of British Insurers has
debated this, saying it could potentially be
misleading for drivers.
By declaring the system as self-driving, drivers
might feel they can switch off behind the
wheel. In reality, they still need to be able to
regain control of the vehicle at any time.
Electric car grant cut
There is increasing pressure on drivers to
switch to electric cars, which isn’t easy given
that the initial cost for an EV is £20,000
upwards.
The government’s electric car grant went
some way towards making them affordable.
But in December 2021, it reduced the grant.
Now, the grant has been cut from £2,500 to
£1,000 and will only be available for vehicles
costing up to £32,000. You could previously
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apply the grant to vehicles up to £35,000.
Nurses to be able to determine if you’re fit
to drive - rather than just doctors
The government is considering allowing
nurse practitioners to conduct medical
questionnaires to determine if you’re fit to
drive. Previously, only GPs were allowed
to do this. This change could help to speed
up driving licence renewal applications, and
decrease the workload on already stretched
doctors.
New homes to have EV charging points
fitted by law in 2022
Infrastructure around charging points has
been a barrier for people considering
switching EVs.
But this year all new builds in England will
have to install EV charging points. This will be
a legal requirement.
The new charging points should be installed in
new-build homes, new supermarkets and any
other building that’s having major renovations.
Ban on red diesel and rebated biofuel
To help the UK reach its climate target, on 1
April 2022, the government will restrict the use
of red diesel and biofuel in some vehicles.
The red diesel ban will mainly affect
businesses rather than individuals. Usually,
this type of fuel is used for agricultural
machinery, for example in tractors or ploughs.
The ban could mean that businesses resort
to using cleaner fuel options to power their
vehicles.
www.confused.com
March 2022