Motorists will have to prepare for a number of changes in 2022, including higher gasoline and diesel prices. In addition, old driver’s licenses lose their validity. What also changes in road traffic – an overview.
The year 2022 begins with bad news for most drivers: the prices for diesel and petrol are rising again. In addition, stricter rules apply to the promotion of plug-in hybrids. Otherwise, however, the changes in road traffic are limited.
This will be the case for car and motorcycle drivers, truck drivers and cyclists, among others, in the coming year:
Diesel and gasoline are becoming more expensive
The fuel is likely to remain expensive in the coming year. Because on January 1st, the CO2 price increases to 30 euros per ton, which increases the price of a liter of petrol by 8.4 cents. Diesel will be 9.5 cents more expensive.
How much fuel ultimately costs at the petrol station also depends on the development of the oil price.
Carrying masks should be compulsory
It is planned that masks will be required to be carried in the first-aid kit in 2022. According to the ADAC, the corresponding DIN standard for first-aid kits should be adapted for this purpose.
It prescribes what belongs in the emergency kit. When the new regulation will come and when the two masks will have to be carried has not yet been determined.
Hybrid funding will be tightened
The subsidy for plug-in hybrids (PHEV) will be reorganized for the New Year: The subsidy of up to 6,750 euros is only available if the vehicle has a minimum electrical range of 60 kilometers or emits a maximum of 50 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
The new federal government is also planning to set the minimum range expected to be 80 km from 2023. At the same time, the 50g CO2 rule is to be dropped from October 1, 2022.
Owners of purely electrically powered cars can also benefit from the so-called greenhouse gas reduction quota (GHG quota) from 2022: regardless of whether the e-car is new, used or leased, vehicle owners can simply have the CO2 savings of their electric vehicle certified and sell to a service provider.
New driver assistants
From July 6th, new types of cars must be equipped with additional assistance systems. Then, for example, the intelligent speed assistant ISA (Intelligent Speed Assistance) is prescribed, which is supposed to warn when the prescribed speed is exceeded.
A reversing, lane keeping and emergency braking assistant as well as a drowsiness warning will also be mandatory for new type approvals.
“Another important and long overdue measure is the mandatory installation of turning assistants for trucks,” says Jeannine Rust from the Auto Club Europa (ACE). The turning assistant will be mandatory for vehicles weighing 3.5 tonnes or more from 2022.
From July 2024, all new vehicles will have to be equipped with the assistants.
Old driving licenses must be exchanged
Drivers who are still driving with a proverbial old “rag” should not miss the deadline to exchange for a forgery-proof credit card driver’s license.
“This now applies to those born between 1953 and 1958. The exchange period for them is actually only until January 19, 2022,” says Jürgen Grieving from ADAC.
Since the waiting times for processing are very long due to the corona, the transport ministers proposed at their last meeting not to impose any fines until July 19, 2022.
Because anyone who is otherwise still on the road with a gray or pink paper driver’s license from January 20, could be fined 10 euros. The exchange of the driver’s license costs 25 euros.
Nothing new for cyclists at first
So far, there are no innovations or changes in sight for cyclists. “The catalog of fines that came into force in November is the last innovation that also affects cyclists,” says David Koßmann from the Bicycle Press Service (pd-f). “Now we have to wait and see what the new federal government does for cyclists.”
Among other things, the new catalog of fines provides for higher fines for drivers who park on cycle paths and footpaths. But cycling on the sidewalk has also become more expensive, previously 10, now 55 euros.