Driving Offences & Maximum Penalties

Driving Offence	Prison	Fine	Driving Ban	Penalty Points
Causing death by dangerous driving*	14 years	Unlimited	Obligatory. Min 2 years compulsory re–test.	3–11**
Dangerous driving*	2 years	Unlimited	Obligatory. Compulsory re–test. Min 1 year.	3–11**
Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs	14 years	Unlimited	Obligatory Min 2 years	3–11**
Careless driving, inconsiderate driving, driving without due care and attention	N/A	£5,000	Discretionary	3–9
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs or with excess alcohol; or failing to provide a specimen for analysis	6 months	£5,000	Obligatory	3–11**
Failing to stop after an accident or failing to report an accident	6 months	£5,000	Discretionary	5–10
Driving when disqualified	6 months Scotland: 12	£5,000	Discretionary	6
Driving after refusal or revocation of licence on medical grounds	6 months	£5,000	Discretionary	3–6
Driving without insurance	N/A	£5,000 FPN:£200	Discretionary	6–8 FPN: 6
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence	N/A	£1,000	Discretionary	3–6
Speeding	N/A	£1,000 £2,500† FPN: £60	Discretionary	3–6 FPN: 3
Traffic light offences	N/A	£1,000 FPN: £60	Discretionary	3
No MOT Certificate	N/A	£1,000 FPN: £30
Seat belt offences	N/A	£500 FPN: £30
Dangerous cycling	N/A	£2,500
Careless cycling	N/A	£1,000
Cycling on pavement	N/A	£500
Failing to identify driver of vehicle	N/A	£1,000	Discretionary	6
Use of hand–held mobile phone whilst in charge of a vehicle	N/A	£1,000 £2,500†† FPN: £60		3

*	Where a court disqualifies a person on conviction for one of these offences, it must order an extended re–test. The courts also have discretion to order a re–test for any other offence which carries penalty points: an extended re–test where disqualification is obligatory and an ordinary test where disqualification is not obligatory.
**	If exceptionally not disqualified.
†	Motorway.
††	If driving a bus, coach or heavy goods vehicle.
FPN	Fixed Penalty Notice.

Driving Offence