Examples of Careless Driving:
- cutting in front of another vehicle when emerging from a side road
- driving through a red light
- distractions such as tuning a car radio or using a mobile phone
- eating or drinking whilst driving
- driving inappropriately close to another vehicle
- failing to adhere to the relevant parts of the Highway Code
- lighting a cigarette whilst driving
- remaining in the overtaking lane
No behaviour is automatically deemed to be careless driving. The court must be sure in every case that the elements of the offence are proven.
Examples of Inconsiderate driving:
- splashing pedestrians with your car
- flashing your lights or sounding your horn to force another vehicle to give way to you
- braking unnecessarily
- driving with high beam headlights
Examples of Dangerous Driving (more serious offence, not counted as careless or inconsiderate driving):
- reading a map whilst driving
- racing other vehicles
- disregarding passengers’ warnings
Application of Highway Code
Failure to observe a provision of the Highway Code will not render the driver liable to any criminal or civil proceedings but failure to adhere to the Code can be relied upon in proceedings by Claimant parties to establish liability. The Highway Code is often referred to in proceedings but a breach of the Code will not of itself prove liability. The Court will consider the facts of each case before deciding whether the Defendant is guilty of careless or inconsiderate driving.
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