If you’re reading “Automotive Tips”, the chances are that driving is pretty important to you. We all love driving, but for some of us, it’s an essential part of our daily routine. Without a driving license, we wouldn’t be able to get groceries, go to work, or support our families. If this is the situation you are in, losing your driving license could have a serious negative impact on not just your life but the lives of the people you care most about.
We strongly advise you follow all the laws of the road, but to make sure you treat driving with the care it needs, this article outlines which driving offences are most likely to cost you your license. The article also offers tips for ways to keep your license should you be accused of committing a driving offence.
Causing death by dangerous driving
Nobody wants to cause the death of another through dangerous driving, so it is understandable that under these circumstances, you could face extremely stiff penalties. If found guilty of causing the death of another through careless driving, you will almost certainly lose your license for at least 2 years, face 14 years in prison, and receive an unlimited fine. If you find yourself accused of causing the death of another, you must seek legal advice to make sure your side of the story is heard by the court.
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Most of us would agree that being under the influence of drugs or alcohol seriously impedes our ability to drive. It should therefore come as no surprise that doing so will likely result in a two-year driving ban as well as a fine of up to £5000, with the possibility of up to 6 months in prison. These penalties would, of course, be even more severe if you were involved in an accident. The best practice here is not to drive if you have consumed any alcohol or drugs that can affect you’re driving. After you’ve had a drink, it can be all too easy to make the wrong decisions. Don’t drink if you’re likely to want to drive afterwards. Should you find yourself in this situation, it is again extremely important that you seek specialist legal advice so the court hears your side of the story.
Other offences that can cost you your license
The following offences can also lead to your driving license being revoked as well as a fine, although they are generally regarded as less serious, and if you have not caused an accident and have a previously clean license, you won’t necessarily lose your license. Careless driving, failing to report an accident, driving without insurance, speeding, traffic light offences, and failing to identify the driver of a vehicle. Under these circumstances, you may be able to persuade the court to let you keep your license. The courts may decide not to ban you from driving if you can prove that a driving ban will cause you exceptional hardship. Exceptional hardship normally means more than just losing your job and depends very much on your circumstances. Furthermore, should you find yourself in court for a driving offence less than three years late, you will not be able to plead the same exceptional circumstances. Having your exceptional circumstances heard requires good knowledge of how the case is heard, so once ag, having specialist legal advice will greatly increase your chances of having your case heard.
A driving ban can also be avoided if you can prove that there were extremely exceptional circumstances forcedforce you to break the law. Again, these circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Offences considered less serious, which are normally punished with a fine only to drivers with a clean license, include: using a handheld phone whilst driving, driving without an MOT, and seat belt offences. A court appearance is normally only necessary if you wish to contest the charge, and even then, it can often be done through the post.
None of the above tips should be considered legal advice, and if you are being accused of any of these offences, you should contact a specialist driving offence solicitor with experience in your area. A lawyer will do everything they can to help you keep your license, but nothing is more effective than driving carefully and safely to begin with.
In our experience acting swiftly can be a great asset in any case related to a traffic offence, many fines will be greatly reduced if paid with in a set time limit of being issued and courts will be more willing to listen to defendants who have made an effort to have rectify there offence rather than trying to avoid it. If you need help fighting your case, calling a case-experienced driving solicitor should be one of the first things you do.
