Legislation update – September 2022

Multi Department – Driving licence flexibility for alternatively-fuelled vehicles 

Seeking views on licence flexibility alterations including training requirements, vehicle type, towing allowance and eligible powertrains. Released 09/08/2022 – closes 04/10/2022. 

Welsh Government – Welsh transport appraisal guidance (WelTAG) 2022 

The Welsh Government has opened a consultation on proposed revisions to the transport appraisal guidance. Released 11/08/2022 – closes 03/11/2022.  

CCAV – Self-driving vehicles: new safety ambition 

Seeks views on our proposed safety ambition for self-driving vehicles to form the foundation of a new self-driving vehicle safety framework. Released 19/08/2022 – closes 14/10/2022. 

BEIS – Proposals for hydrogen transport and storage business models 

Seeks views on hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure business model designs, regulatory arrangements, strategic planning and the role of blending. Released 31/08/2022 – closes 22/11/2022. 

Consultations which closed in August 

Transport Select Committee – Self-driving vehicles 

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee launched an inquiry into self-driving vehicles. Released 27/06/2022 – closed 22/08/2022.  

DfT – Posting of road transport workers and operator licensing changes 

Sought views on the requirement for UK goods vehicle operators to post declarations to carry out goods journeys within the EU, as well as the consolidation of regulations for foreign goods vehicles operating in the UK. Released 24/06/2022 – closed 05/08/2022. 

DfT – Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail: legislative changes to implement rail reform 

Sought views on primary legislative changes required to effect rail reform as set out in the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. Released 24/06/2022 – closed 04/08/2022. 

Announcements, August 2022 

30/08/2022 – DfT – Future of London’s transport network secured with government’s multi-billion pound settlement 

Funding will also support modernisation and network upgrades. 

29/08/2022 – Multi Department – Fuelling a greener future – E10 petrol rolling out in Northern Ireland on 1 November 2022 

Greener petrol rolled out to help Northern Ireland decarbonise transport. 

25/08/2022 – DfT – New UK-Ukraine transport partnership to rebuild war-torn infrastructure 

UK transport infrastructure experts will provide knowledge in airport, runway and port reconstruction. 

24/08/2022 – Multi Department – Drivers to benefit from £20 million EV chargepoint boost 

Drivers will have access to more than 1,000 new electric vehicle chargepoints across the country. 

22/08/2022 – DfT – National longer heavier vehicle trial 

Study researching the feasibility of a national trial of longer heavier vehicles (LHVs) within Great Britain. 

22/08/2022 – Multi Department – Walking, wheeling and cycling to be offered on prescription in nationwide trial 

Eleven local authority areas in England to benefit from £12.7 million in multi-year funding. 

22/08/2022 – DVSA – Revised guidance on categorisation of defects 

Revised guidance on how DVSA categorises vehicle defects in roadside checks has been published, which will be enforced from 1 September 2022. 

22/08/2022 – DVSA – We're updating the IVA Trailer Inspection manual for light and heavy trailers 

From 5 September 2022, some changes will take effect in the inspection manual for light and heavy trailers. This affects O1, O2, O3 and O4 trailers and reflects changes in legislation. 

19/08/2022 – DfT – £130 million to protect bus services across the country 

Funding will ensure that vital bus services can continue to run. 

19/08/2022 – CCAV – Connected and automated mobility 2025: realising the benefits of self-driving vehicles 

The government’s plans for connected and automated mobility technologies. 

19/08/2022 – CDEI – Responsible Innovation in Self-Driving Vehicles 

The CDEI has published a report that sets out recommendations for a responsible and trustworthy regulatory and assurance framework to support the future governance of self-driving vehicles. 

18/08/2022 – Multi Department – Self-driving revolution to boost economy and improve road safety 

New plan for self-driving vehicles plus a consultation on a safety ambition. 

18/08/2022 – Information about trailers tested between 1 May and 30 June 2022 

DVSA is aware that some trailers fitted with Knorr Bremse Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) may have been incorrectly tested for service efficiency during the roller brake test aspect of the annual test. 

15/08/2022 – DfT – Major boost to Welsh economy as A4119 upgrades start construction 

The new A4119 will boost the local economy, create jobs and improve local infrastructure. 

12/08/2022 – DfT – Approval of the early use of standard EN 12493:2020 (LPG equipment - welded steel pressure vessels for LPG road tankers - design and manufacture) 

Permits early use of international standard EN 12493:2020. 

11/08/2022 – DVSA – DVSA increases lorry driver testing by 74% 

The Department for Transport has today (11 August 2022) published the official driving test statistics for January 2022 to March 2022. The data shows that vocational tests increased by 74% between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022 compared to the same period in 2020. 

11/08/2022 – Multi Department – Huge increase in lorry driving tests following government action 

Official statistics reveal 74% more lorry tests were carried out between January and March 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels. 

11/08/2022 – Multi Department – Driver and rider testing and instructor statistics: January to March 2022 

Driver standards statistics on the numbers and pass rates for driving, riding theory, practical tests and registered driving and riding instructors. 

11/08/2022 – DfT – Cambridge re-signalling 

Network Rail is investing £194 million to renew the signalling system for the Cambridge area. 

10/08/2022 – DfT – Road goods vehicles travelling to Europe: July 2021 to June 2022 

Number of powered vehicles and unaccompanied trailers carried on each route to Europe for July 2021 to June 2022. 

08/08/2022 – DfT – Traffic enforcement equipment certification guidance for local councils 

Technical guidance for local councils in England on obtaining approval of equipment used to capture evidence of certain traffic contraventions. 

08/08/2022 – DfT – Vital A38 upgrades to support thousands of new homes and jobs in Worcestershire 

People in Worcestershire are set to benefit from more than £43 million of government funding for A38 upgrades. 

08/08/2022 – DVSA – A new online portal for complaints and feedback 

DVSA has launched a new online portal for its customers who wish to make a complaint or send positive feedback. 

05/08/2022 – DfT – Views sought on options to streamline driver licensing and support jobs 

Call for evidence to help create new opportunities in logistics and support the UK supply chain. 

02/08/2022 – DVSA – Detecting tachograph violations is getting easier 

DVSA is trialling remote tachograph sensing equipment in Britain, to make it easier to detect drivers and operators who are breaking drivers’ hours rules. 

01/08/2022 – DfT – DfT and transport NDPB organisational charts 

Department for Transport (DfT) and non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) structure charts and organisational data.