Five common driving offences and the penalties they hold

There are a multitude of offences that can occur while you are behind the wheel of a car or other motor vehicle and they often – quite rightly – carry heavy penalties. This article looks at five common motoring offences and the penalties you will face if found guilty of one of them.

1. Driving without insurance

Insurance is in place to protect drivers and passengers alike. Driving without insurance is a serious offence yet many people often fall foul of this offence as they do not realise they do not have a valid insurance certificate or perhaps did not realise they needed insurance (perhaps for example, if their car was ‘just’ parked on the road, not being ‘used’, they might wrongly believe they do not need insurance). Driving without insurance can lead to a fine of up to £5000, penalty points on your licence and, in some cases, a driving ban.

2. Speeding

Exceeding the speed limit is a common offence and it does not matter whether you are driving in a 30mph zone or a 70mph zone – if you exceed the limit you are breaking the law. If you are caught exceeding the speeding limit you will usually receive between 3 and 6 penalty points on your licence and may even face a driving ban.

3. Driving under the influence of alcohol

Driving with more than the legal limit of alcohol in your blood can put your own life and the lives of other at risk. Your vision, concentration and responses will all be impaired significantly reducing your ability to drive safely. The penalties for drink driving are – as would be expected – severe. If caught, you can expect to receive a ban of at least 12 months, a fine of up to £5,000 and maybe even a prison sentence.

4. Mobile use while driving

Statistics show that there are still a staggering amount of people that continue to use their phone – either to text or to make calls – while driving. It is clear that doing this will immediately take your full attention away from driving safely and you will not be physically or mentally 100% in control of your vehicle. If you are caught using your mobile phone while driving you will face a hefty fine and maybe even a prison sentence.

5. Dangerous driving

If you drive ‘without due care and attention’ – or dangerously – you are immediately endangering yourself and other road users. If caught you could face a fine, a driving ban and perhaps even a prison sentence.

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