This occurs when a person drives a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place.

Careless driving or driving without due care and attention means that the standard of driving was below the standard which can be expected of a reasonable, prudent, competent driver in all the circumstances of the case.

There are some defences that can be put forward on your behalf in respect of allegations of driving without due care and attention. These include automatism, the vehicle having mechanical defects and issues in respect of identification.

Penalty

If you are convicted of this type of offence, you will receive between 3 and 9 penalty points on your licence and a fine of up to £2,500. In extreme cases you may be disqualified and ordered to pay costs. The court has discretion to disqualify you from driving rather than awarding you with penalty points. The court could, instead of imposing points, impose a discretionary disqualification. In particularly bad cases of driving, the court could order, in addition to any other penalty, disqualification until a retest.