The 5 Most Common Driving Offences
There are lots of ways in which we can break the law while driving. Below are some of the most common offences, the penalties they typically carry and how you can prevent yourself committing such an offence.
Speeding
Speeding is by far the most common driving offence. Since 2011, the number of speeding offences has risen by 5% each year in the UK. The minimum penalty for speeding is 3 penalty points and a £100 fine – although some people are given the option of going on a speeding awareness course.
If you’re a serial speeder who keeps getting caught, it could be time to start slowing down. There are lots of measures you can take to break the habit of speeding from leaving more time for journeys (most people speed because they are running late) to installing a black box/speed limiter.
Drink driving a.k.a Drunk driving
85,000 people are convicted of drink driving every year. Drink driving can carry serious penalties. These include temporary driving bans, fines and sometimes imprisonment. Employers will also be able to see this conviction on your record and it may affect your ability to travel to certain countries. Even if you do manage to drive again, you may find that your insurance rates are very high afterwards.
All in all, it’s important to know the legal alcohol limit before driving to avoid the penalties (not to mention the danger you could cause). In most cases, it’s better to drink nothing at all if you plan to drive – either leave your car at home when going out or plan to consume non-alcoholic drinks.
Driving without insurance
There are thought to be 2 million uninsured drivers in the UK. Many of these drivers get caught. Driving without insurance can carry a hefty fine and usually 6 to 8 points or a disqualification.
A lot of people drive without insurance because it’s so expensive or because they cannot apply for insurance due to a previous conviction. While insurance can be difficult to obtain, skipping it altogether is not worth the penalties. Take the time to shop around for insurers – there are providers like One Sure Insurance that are able to insure people who may have had penalties, as well as helping you to find cheaper rates. You should also consider the car that you are trying to insure – some cars are easier to insure than others.
Driving an unregistered/untaxed vehicle
Another common offence is driving an unregistered or untaxed vehicle. This can result in a fine. You may also have your vehicle towed away.
Always register and tax a vehicle the moment you purchase it. You can do this online and it is generally not very expensive.
Using a phone while driving
13,000 people per year are convicted of driving while using a mobile phone. You’ll usually get 6 penalty points for this and a £200 fine. Avoid the temptation to look at your phone while driving by turning notifications off and storing it somewhere you can’t reach while driving. Alternatively, set up hands-free calls so that you can still take calls without having to touch your phone (check out this guide at Lifewire on how to do this).
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