Barnsley Motoring Offences
At John Barkers Solicitors, we specialise in motoring offence cases and are dedicated to helping the people of Barnsley access legal advice for such matters. In this article, we explain the various types of motoring offences that can be committed in the UK.
Careless driving
Careless driving is when a motorist drives with a lack of attention, disregard or care for other road users. It’s an offence to drive without reasonable consideration for other road users; examples include: bad lane discipline, failing to obey traffic signals, not giving way to pedestrians and overtaking recklessly.
Driving without due care and attention
Driving without due care and attention is similar to careless driving, although the standard of driving must have fallen below that of a careful and competent driver. It requires the motorist to be found guilty of bad judgement rather than simply making a mistake.
Dangerous driving
Dangerous driving is considered far more serious than careless or inconsiderate driving. Dangerous drivers pose an immediate risk to other road users by their actions, such as speeding, tailgating, overtaking dangerously and making dangerous manoeuvres. This offence carries a minimum one-year disqualification from driving with up to two years in prison.
Drink driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal, and it’s an offence to drive with a blood-alcohol level higher than that set by law. Anyone caught doing so can face disqualification from driving for at least one year, up to six months in prison, a fine or both.
Drug driving
Drug driving is similar to drink driving – it’s illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs which impair your ability to do so safely. If you are found guilty of this offence then you could face up to six months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban of at least one year.
Speeding
It is an offence to drive a vehicle faster than the speed limit set on that particular road. The penalty for speeding varies depending on how fast you were going and what type of licence you hold; this can include points added to your licence, fines or even disqualification from driving.
Using a mobile phone while driving
The use of handheld phones or similar devices while driving is illegal. You could face three penalty points on your licence or a fixed penalty notice if caught using one. In some cases it may lead to a disqualification from driving.
