The Offence:
A person drives dangerously if the way he drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous.
The Penalty:
This is an offence that can be dealt with either at the magistrates or crown court depending upon the seriousness of the driving. The maximum penalty available is a prison sentence of two years.The Magistrates sentencing guidelines (August 2008) suggest that the lowest level of dangerous driving, where " a single incident with little or no damage or risk of injury" should be met with a community order. The more serious cases will be dealt with by the Crown Court.
A conviction for Dangerous Driving carries a mandatory disqualification of at least twelve months and a requirement at the conclusion of the disqualification to pass an extended retest. In more serious cases, the length of the disqualification will be longer
How we can help:
Cases of this nature can often attract prison sentences and it is important to seek the services of a solicitor. If you challenge the allegation, our solicitors will be able to advise upon the prospect of successfully defending your case and will occasionally seek the assistance of a number of road traffic accident experts to assist them. It is important to know that in the event that the case goes to trial, a jury or magistrates can find a person guilty of careless driving as an alternative so our solicitors will, where appropriate liaise with the appropriate prosecution department to determine whether a charge of careless driving is more appropriate.
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