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What Are Careless Driving And Dangerous Driving?

By Lewis Cobain. Last Updated 8th October 2024. It can be difficult to decipher the difference between careless driving vs. dangerous driving. Both can result in road traffic accidents, but they are very different.

Car accidents can cause life-changing injuries. Therefore, pursuing a personal injury compensation claim can award you with the compensation you need to get your life back.

This guide will answer the following questions:

  • Is dangerous driving the same as careless driving?
  • How do police prove dangerous driving?
  • What are examples of dangerous driving?

Our friendly team of advisers are available 24/7 to offer you free legal advice. They’d be happy to have a chat about your situation and explore the steps you can take to receive the compensation you deserve.

If you have a valid claim, they can connect you with a personal injury solicitor to discuss No Win No Fee agreements with you and begin working on your personal injury compensation claim. Our experienced personal injury lawyers could help you.

To contact our expert team of advisers, you can:

  • Give them a call on 0800 073 8804 to have a chat about your case.
  • Chat with an adviser via our live chat pop-up box for an instant response.
  • Put your details into our claims form online to receive a response whenever suits you best.Two cars that have crashed with debris on the road

 

Select A Section

  1. Careless Driving vs Dangerous Driving – How Are They Different?
  2. Driving Offences – Dangerous Driving
  3. Driving Offences – Careless Driving
  4. Inconsiderate Driving
  5. Penalties For Dangerous Driving or Careless Driving
  6. Road Traffic Accident Claims – Who Is Eligible To Claim For Serious Injury Caused By Dangerous Driving?
  7. Calculate Payouts For Injuries Caused By Careless Driving And Dangerous Driving
  8. Special Damages Payouts For Careless Driving And Dangerous Driving
  9. No Win No Fee Careless Driving And Dangerous Driving Personal Injury Claims
  10. Talk To An Expert
  11. Learn More About Motoring Offences

Careless Driving vs Dangerous Driving – How Are They Different?

The difference between careless driving vs dangerous driving revolves around two key points. Whilst they are both offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988, the distinction between them is in how far below the accepted standard the driver falls and whether they have been dangerous in doing so.

Careless driving involves driving without due care and attention. What is classed as dangerous driving is different as this has to fall far below what is expected of a careful and competent driver. The other distinction is that in dangerous driving, it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous. There is no mention of danger in the offence of careless driving.

We hope you now understand the difference between careless and dangerous driving. If you still have questions, why not reach out to an advisor?

Driving Offences – Dangerous Driving

Dangerous driving in the UK is a statutory offence. Section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers the definition of this. It states that the driving falls far below the expected level of a normal competent driver and driving this way would be known to be dangerous.  Here are some examples of dangerous driving:

  • Driving over the limit i.e. racing
  • Ignoring traffic lights
  • Knowingly driving a damaged vehicle
  • Overtaking someone in a dangerous manner
  • Driving when unfit

Dangerous driving can either mean the person driving the car is deemed dangerous, or it can mean the car itself is unfit to be driven. Furthermore, you can be reported for dangerous driving even if no accident occurs.

If you’re caught dangerous driving, at the lower end of the scale you’ll likely receive a fine and penalty points. However, it all depends on the severity of the dangerous driving and whether there are any additional offences such as alcohol and drug use. For a dangerous driving offence in England and Wales, it can mean up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine, driving disqualification or points. If a death is caused by dangerous driving this can mean a maximum of 14 years in prison.

If you’ve suffered an injury caused by a dangerous driver, you may wish to speak to our team of advisers to check if you’re eligible to make a compensation claim. They can assess how much compensation you may be entitled to and connect you with a personal injury lawyer if your claim is valid.

Driving Offences – Careless Driving

Essentially, careless driving is a less severe form of dangerous driving. Although it’s less severe, it can still cause serious accidents on the road.

Here are some examples of careless driving:

  • Tailgating
  • Running a red light by mistake
  • Undertaking a vehicle
  • Driving too slowly
  • Hand brake turns

The penalties for careless driving can vary greatly depending on the circumstances. The lower end of the spectrum would be a warning, then a fixed penalty with the offer for training, not accepting the penalty and have the case heard in court. There is also the possibility of between 3-9 points and a fine.

Inconsiderate Driving

Inconsiderate driving is classified as driving with no consideration for the surrounding vehicles and pedestrians. Here are some examples of inconsiderate driving:

  • Driving in a cycle lane
  • Driving in a bus lane
  • Suddenly braking for no reason
  • Using motorway lanes incorrectly

Penalties for inconsiderate driving often include fines and sometimes points on your license. This type of driving is unlikely to go to court. If it does, the fine and license points may increase.

Penalties For Dangerous Driving or Careless Driving

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, dangerous driving and careless driving may have different penalties.

If you are thought to have been driving dangerously, either the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court will judge your case.

If you are found guilty in the magistrates’ court, the penalties for dangerous driving may include spending 6 months in custody and/or paying a level five fine.

However, in the Crown Court, you may face an unlimited fine and up to 2 years in prison.

Under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, all drivers found guilty of driving dangerously must not be allowed to drive for at least a year, and they must take an extended retest once the ban is over. If the driver is exempt from this rule for ‘special reasons’, they will have 3-11 points added to their licence.

According to the Highway Code, if you are at fault for a hit and run in the UK, your penalty could be an unlimited fine, 6 months imprisonment and/or discretionary disqualification of driving and 5-10 points on your licence.

If you are found guilty of careless and inconsiderate driving, or driving without due care and attention, the penalties can differ. This may include:

  • A level five fine
  • 3-9 penalty points on your licence (unless exempt for ‘special reasons’)
  • Disqualification from driving for a fixed period or until a driving test has been passed

If you have been harmed by the dangerous or careless driving of another road user, speak to our advisors at any time for free legal advice.

Road Traffic Accident Claims – Who Is Eligible To Claim For Serious Injury Caused By Dangerous Driving?

When seeking car accident compensation for a serious injury by dangerous driving, it’s important to establish whether you have an eligible claim before you take action. In order to do this, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Did the defendant owe you a duty of care?
  • Was that duty of care breached?
  • Were you injured or did you suffer harm as a result?

When we talk about duty of care, this is outlined in the Road Traffic Act 1988. The legislation states that motorists should drive with due care and attention. To drive dangerously is an offence. The Highway Code further sets out how road users should act when on the road to reduce the danger or threat they pose to others.

As part of the road traffic accident claims process, you’ll be expected to provide proof of the other road user’s negligence as well as any injuries or harm you have sustained. We’ll discuss evidence you can use further on in this guide.

Calculate Payouts For Injuries Caused By Careless Driving And Dangerous Driving

A personal injury claims calculator can help assess how much compensation your injury may be worth. Similarly, a compensation table can produce compensation figures for various different injuries to assess how much they may be valued in compensation.

The compensation table below includes the latest Judicial College Guidelines figures (aside from the first entry) to show how much compensation some injuries are valued. These figures may vary.

Injury:Compensation:
Multiple Serious Injuries with Special DamagesUp to £500,000+
Moderately Severe Brain Damage£267,340 to £344,150
Severe Back Injuries (i)£111,150 to £196,450
Severe Neck Injuries (i)In the region of £181,020
Severe Leg Injuries (ii) Very Serious£66,920 to £109,290
Wrist Injuries (a)£58,710 to £73,050
Multiple Fractures of Facial Bones£18,180 to £29,220
Fractures of Nose or Nasal Complex (i)£12,990 to £28,220
Fractures of Cheekbones (i)£12,450 to £19,260

Compensation awards are split across two different sections (general damages and special damages). The awarded bracket depends on the severity of the injuries and how long treatment takes.

General damages compensate for the actual injury and how it has affected you mentally and physically. For example, you may experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to the accident and injuries you sustained.

Special damages compensate for the financial loss you’ve suffered due to your injuries. For example, you may have suffered a loss of earnings due to taking time off work whilst healing from your injuries. Please note that it’s often difficult to claim special damages without proof that you suffered a financial loss.

Special Damages Payouts For Careless Driving And Dangerous Driving 

As mentioned in the above section, special damages offer compensation for the financial impact the injury has had on you. Here are some examples of financial loss and the evidence you could provide alongside it:

  • Care costs – Your injury may have meant you needed to hire a carer to care for you whilst you’re recovering, for example, to cook your meals. On the other hand, you may have been unable to care for an elderly family member the way you usually would due to your injuries. Therefore, you may have had to hire a carer for them.
  • Medication – You may have paid out of pocket for prescription medication. An example of evidence you could use to prove you paid for your medication is prescriptions and bank statements.
  • Loss of earnings – Special damages can compensate you for the financial loss you suffered due to taking time off work for your injuries. An example of evidence you could gather to prove loss of earnings is payslips.
  • Travel costs – You may have paid out of pocket to travel to and from medical appointments, for example, by taxi or bus. An example of evidence you could provide for this is bus tickets.

If you’d like to discuss whether you may be entitled to special damages, our team of advisers would be happy to discuss this with you. You can contact them at any time of the day to have a chat about your situation and assess how much compensation you may be owed.

No Win No Fee Careless Driving And Dangerous Driving Personal Injury Claims

No Win No Fee agreements contain many monetary benefits as they leave you with little to lose. Our solicitors are happy to discuss working on a No Win No Fee basis with claimants.

A No Win No Fee agreement, or Conditional Fee Agreement, is a contractual agreement between you and your personal injury lawyer. This contract states what your solicitors has to do in order to receive payment.

If your case loses, you don’t have to pay the fees your solicitor has gained throughout your case. If your case wins, your personal injury solicitor will deduct a legally capped, small percentage of your compensation.

Talk To An Expert

Our team of advisers are available around the clock to offer you 24/7 free legal advice. They’d be happy to answer any questions you have and assess how much compensation you may be entitled to.

If you have a promising case, they can connect you to a personal injury solicitor to explore No Win No Fee agreements with you. Our lawyers are experienced in helping claimants gather sufficient evidence to support their claim.

When you speak to an adviser from our team, you’re under no obligation to continue with our services. However, if your claim is legitimate, the opportunity to be connected to a personal injury solicitor who can be offered to you.

You can contact our team of advisers by:

  • Ringing them on 0800 073 8804 to receive assistance with your case.
  • Filling out our online claims form to give an adviser as much information as possible about your situation.
  • Having a chat with an adviser through our instant chat pop-up box to receive a response straight away.

Learn More About Motoring Offences

Department for Transport – This link includes information such as statistics surrounding road traffic accidents and national travel survey statistics.

Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) – The MIB helps victims of injuries sustained from uninsured drivers gain compensation.

Broken Leg – Have you suffered a broken leg injury due to a road traffic accident? This NHS guide includes important information you should know.

£15,000 Compensation For A Cyclist Knocked Off Bike By A Car – If you’ve suffered injuries in a vehicle accident whilst you were cycling, you may be able to make a personal injury claim if someone else’s negligence caused your injuries.

We also have some other guides on car accident claims that you may find useful:

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    • Patrick Mallon legal expert author

      Patrick is a Grade A solicitor having qualified in 2005. He's an an expert in accident at work and public liability claims and is currently our head of the EL/PL department. Get in touch today for free to see how we can help you.

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