3 Most Common Driving Offenses and Their Punishments
In this article, you will find the list of the top five most frequent motoring offenses and their punishment.
Driving Without a Valid MOT
When it comes to an MOT (click here to find more explanation on what an MOT is), it might be very tempting to postpone it to another day, week, or month. Some drivers simply forget about the yearly check of their vehicle and drive without a valid MOT.Do you remember what your car's MOT exact date is? More than half of drivers would confess they do not.
Therefore, it is very easy to fall into the trap of driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate. However, it might lead to terrible consequences for the owner of a car. If your MOT has expired, the only circumstances in which you can drive it is to the place where it will be tested. If the police stop you on the way, you must prove that you have an appointment at the garage.
Here, you will find the list of possible punishments for driving a car with an invalid MOT certificate in the U.K.:
- £60 penalty notice
- Up to £1000 of fine
- 6-8 penalty points
- Impounding of your vehicle (in some cases)
- Invalid cover of insurance
Speeding Punishment in the U.K.
Speeding is another very frequent driving offense committed by people. The minimum penalty is £100 and 3 points added to your license. You can get caught by a speed camera or by the police.What happens if you get caught by a speed camera?
Very often, this comes as a surprise to a driver. Within 14 days, the owner of a car receives a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), and a Section 172 notice by mail.No matter who was the driver at the moment of speeding, the letter will always come to the person on whom the vehicle is registered.
Within 28 days, the car owner has to return a Section 172 notice and say who was driving the car. If you ignore the notice, you might need to go to court. If you send or bring a Section 172 notice back within 28 days after it was sent, you might receive a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), or a letter that tells you to go to the court. This depends on your speed and a speed limit in the area where you were caught.
In some cases, a driver is offered an option to attend a speed awareness course. It mostly happens if the police decide it is appropriate for your case. And if you haven't been caught speeding during the last three years.
What happens if you're stopped by the police because of speeding?
Several things can happen if the police stop you due to speeding:- They could give you only a verbal warning if you were driving not too fast.
- They can give you an FPN (Fixed Penalty Notice.)
- They can conduct a breath test to see if you're sober. If you fail the test, you can be arrested.
Using a Hand-Held Mobile Phone While Driving
Many people forget that they cannot talk on their hand-held phones when driving. But it might be so tempting to answer a phone call, thinking no one will notice it! That's why this driving offense is among the most common ones.If you received your driving license less than two years ago, it's better not to take the risk. You can lose your driving license if someone catches you talking on the phone while driving. So it is definitely not worth doing it!
If you're a more experienced driver, but still get caught talking on the phone, be ready to pay £200 and get six penalty points. That's why more and more drivers switch to hand-free phones.
The Bottom Line
There are many more serious driving offenses people make. But these three are the most common. As you see, the punishment is very strict and can lead to the loss of your driving license. Even if it's difficult, be a careful driver and pay a lot of attention to all details that can lead to fatal consequences.Fines and penalty points are not the worst things that may happen when one violates traffic rules. Sometimes, one mistake can cost someone's life. Hopefully, this list was helpful to you, and you will treat your diving experience with due care and attention.
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Posted - 08/11/2020
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