Road Traffic Offenses

Road traffic offences occur every day, with over 48% of vehicles breaking speed limits, and almost 86% of cars over-speeding on 20 mph roads each year. Speeding is one of the many driving offences that result in hefty fines, points on the license, and in case of serious offences, criminal prosecutions and driving bans.

Over 90% of individuals who are taken to court end up being convicted. While there are too many offences to list here, we have selected some common road traffic offences in the UK. These include:

Speeding

Going over the specified speed limit in any area in the country can result in points on the licence, a fine and in some cases even disqualification.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Drink driving regulations differ between England, Wales, and Scotland. The seriousness of the offence is measured by the blood alcohol level of the individual. The police have the right to administer a breath test as well as a blood and urine test to determine the quantity of alcohol in the blood of the driver. The penalty for a conviction can result in driving bans, fines, and even imprisonment if the driving caused grievous harm or is a repeat offence.

Careless or dangerous driving

Careless or dangerous driving without paying attention, such as driving through a red light-whether deliberately or by accident can result in driving disqualification, prison sentences or fines.

Driving without insurance

Before driving anywhere in the UK, the driver is required to have their MOT and insurance payments up to date. Failure to do so can result in points on the licence and a financial penalty for driving without insurance.

Other offences

Other offences for road and traffic include driving without wearing a seat belt, using a phone while driving, drug driving, and road rage among others

Penalties for road traffic offences

Typically, drivers that have committed road traffic offences are penalised in the following ways:

• Points on the licence - Each type of offence incurs a certain number of points on the licence. If the collective points get to 12 in a period of 3 years, it will result in the disqualification of the licence. New drivers are on probation for the first two years of passing their tests and can get disqualified upon getting 6 points.
• Fines - Fines can be imposed on various road traffic offences according to government regulations
• Disqualification - Sometimes, depending on the nature of the driving offence, the courts can impose an obligatory or immediate discretionary disqualification of the driver.
• Prosecution - In serious cases, where property damage or bodily harm has occurred, the driver can be prosecuted as a criminal and can be imprisoned.

Defending against a road traffic offence

Drivers who have been convicted have the right to appeal the conviction or the sentence. The best course of action is to hire expert solicitors that can guide you regarding the proper course of action.