Here are Common Driving Offences and their Reprimands

Responsible drivers take driving offences by heart because of the reprimands or punishments associated with it. If you are new to driving, you must be familiar with the offences so you will know what it can cost you at the end of the day.

Essentially, most of the offences incur a fine but in cases of excessive and dangerous driving, the loss of license and imprisonment are highly plausible. With this, you must understand the laws on driving and the punishments associated with it. Here are common driving offences and their reprimands:

Going above the speed limit

If you break the speed limit set for a particular area, you will pay fines and have license points. For instance, you will pay a minimum fine of £100 and 3 points on your driving license. If you are only over a few miles of the limit, you may be required to attend a speed awareness course. 

However, if you drove 45% more than the limit, there is a chance that your case will be sent to the magistrate. If the court is involved, you have to expect that the fine will be potentially bigger and could even lead to a driving ban.

Using a mobile phone 

Wherever you go, using a mobile phone while driving is a serious driving offence. If you are caught, you will end with £200 roadside fine with 6 points on your license. If you are taken to court, the fine could be higher than £1,000. 

Careless and dangerous driving

Careless driving means you have been driving without due attention or care expected of a qualified driver. Examples include tailgating another vehicle or ignoring red light or traffic lights. For this offence, you should expect a fine of £100 and 3 points on your license.

Dangerous driving, on the other hand, is a step from careless driving. This will include purposefully undertaking dangerous acts or driving the motorway at high speeds. The court will decide the punishments depending on the gravity of the offence but there is a possibility of driving ban and spending up to 14 years in jail.

Drink and drug driving

DUIs (Driving Under the Influence) of alcohol and drugs are serious offences. In the case of drink driving, there are different limits like 80 mg per 100 ml in England, Northern Ireland and Wales and 50 mg per 100 ml limit in Scotland. The court will decide the points but a driving ban is highly likely and imprisonment for accidents caused.

The police can also test the drivers if they are under the influence of drugs. If you are caught unfit to drive because of taking illegal or prescribed drugs, you will face punishments as determined by the court. In most cases, aside from fines, points and ban, there is a prison sentence of up to 6 months.

Driving without insurance

As a driver, you should know that driving on any public roads need insurance. These days, the police can check your insurance through their cameras and immediately find out if you are covered. If caught, you should expect 6 points on your license then a fine of £300 on the spot.

Final words

If your driving license is at risk, you must know what to do. If you are confused, you can always count on driving offences solicitors to help you in legal matters. There are many solicitors you can consider but to increase your chances of winning, you should look into the experience of the solicitors.

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John Miller: John, a seasoned business journalist, offers analytical insights on business strategy and corporate governance. His posts are a trusted resource for executives and business students alike.
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