Losing Your Driving Licence

The Five Most Common Reasons For Losing Your Driving Licence

Many people rely heavily on their driving licence for both work and social purposes. Losing your driving licence is of course never your intention, but happens far too frequently. With excellent legal advice you may be able to avoid a ban or minimise the duration of the ban, but sometimes a ban is unavoidable, particularly if you have offended before. This article explores the most common types of driving offence leading to a ban.

1. Speeding

With more and more speed cameras and speed traps set across the network of roads and motorways, particularly variable speed cameras, it is so much easier to be caught speeding. Speeding offences usually carry a three to six point penalty endorsement, however, a ban can be made at the discretion of the Magistrates. The ban could be any length in duration but usually it will be for up to six months, which is a significant period to be without your driving licence.

A ban can be issued to you even if you do not have previous penalty points, for example, if you were driving at a very high speed or driving dangerously (called aggravating circumstances).

2. Probationer Motoring Offences

A driver is considered a probationer driver for two years after passing their driving test. You are expected to achieve the same high standards of driving as any motorist despite having just passed your test.

You can lose your driving licence for committing only one motoring offence. Also, if you receive six penalty points within the first two year probationary period, or are banned for over 56 days, your driving licence will be automatically revoked. A revocation of your driving licence means that you have to start from scratch again and complete both parts of your driving test.

3. Mobile Phone Offences

There are now an increasing number of mobile phone offences leading to driving bans.

Using your phone whilst driving is against Section 41d of The Road Traffic Act 1988 which carries a penalty of up to £1,000 for car drivers or £2,500 for HGV drivers and drivers of vehicles with over eight passengers. You will also receive three penalty points if successfully prosecuted. You might also receive a minimum penalty for holding a mobile phone whilst driving of £60 with three penalty points. Of course, if you already have points from a previous motoring conviction you may face a ban.

4. Drink Driving

There have always been a high number of drink driving offences, and now this also includes driving under the influence of drugs.

This is an incredibly serious offence and can of course lead to an immediate driving ban, or a severe fine with penalty points which could lead to you being banned from driving.

5. Totting Up

Totting up leads to a driving ban by you accumulating twelve driving offence points through any of the above methods over a three year period. If you reach the total of twelve points you face an automatic six month ban.

A totting up ban can also be accumulated by committing more than one offence of carrying a six point penalty at the same time, therefore it can happen immediately. This could happen if you combine a speeding offence (three to six points) with a driving without due care offence (three to nine points).

Summary

There are clearly a large number of ways that can lead to you losing your driving licence. The above ones are the most common that are seen in practice.

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