Of course, you already made the Highway Code part of your essential reading list so you know that it’s against the law to text or make a phone call (unless it’s an emergency) while driving, but it is now illegal to touch your phone while behind the wheel to:

- Record video or take photos
- Change the music
- Play games

The only exception to the law is when you may use your phone to pay for something (tolls, drive-throughs) while the car is stationary.

You could receive a £200 fine and get 6 points on your licence if you ignore this!

It is still OK for you to go hands-free with your calls, music, and sat-nav; just as long as your phone is in a cradle/mounted holder.

Rule H2 creates clearer priorities for pedestrians, especially at junctions, and makes clear where they have right of way. This doesn’t mean that pedestrians have priority in every situation, just that the road users who can cause the greatest harm will have the greatest responsibility of reducing the threat they may pose to others.

For you as a driver, you now have more responsibility to be aware of pedestrians, cyclists, or horse-riding:

- Don’t cross the path of cyclists or horse-riders at junctions

- Pedestrians have priority when they are waiting to cross at a junction or zebra crossing

- Pedestrians and cyclists have priority at a parallel crossing

- Maintain a distance of 1.5 metres when you overtake a bike or motorbike at 30mph

- Cyclists are advised to ride in the middle of the road (in slow/quiet traffic) and when they approach a junction

If you are trying to overtake more than one cyclist they should be in single file, however, if they are a large group on a narrow lane they can ride “two abreast”.

The ‘‘Dutch reach’ technique has been introduced to decrease the likelihood of causing injury to cyclists or motorcyclists who are passing you.

Here’s how to do it:

- Instead of your right hand, move your left hand over to open the door

- This naturally causes your body and head to twist to the right

- This makes it easier for you to look over your shoulder to see if anyone is there or approaching

The second update is that if you have an electric vehicle, you must respect the fact that the charging cables could be a trip hazard for pedestrians so you must take extra care to minimise this risk.

This is set to rise with the retail prices index measure of inflation in April, but the rates are yet to be confirmed by the government. It all depends on your car's CO2 emissions:

- If your car emits 0g per km of CO2 - it should remain a zero cost

- 1g - 50g per km will pay £10 for the first year

- 51g - 75g per km will pay £25 for the first year

- 76g - 150g per km will pay £220


Find out how much car tax you are paying using the Gov.uk website.

As of this year, all new properties in England, including supermarkets, offices, and new build homes will have to have an EV charging point installed.
The government is hoping that implementing this now will incentivise more people to go electric ahead of their plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. It’s likely that petrol cars will be phased out after diesel cars.