New and Revised Motoring Offences Guidelines

Increased Sentences Introduced in New Motoring Offences Guidelines

The revised motoring offences guidelines by the Sentencing Council have brought about increases in the potential sentences for offences in England and Wales involving adult motorists. With the new guidelines in place, adult offenders found guilty of causing death by dangerous or careless driving can now face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. This is a significant increase from the previous maximum term of 14 years.

Starting from 1st July 2023, a set of new motoring offences guidelines will be implemented for the following offences:

• Causing serious injury by dangerous driving
• Careless or inconsiderate driving
• Causing serious injury while driving while disqualified.

The maximum custodial sentences for these offences will be 5 years, 2 years, and 4 years, respectively.

Furthermore, the sentencing council will update existing sentencing guidelines for offences such as:

• Causing injury by wanton or furious driving (This is where a cyclist causes death or injury, and driving or attempting to drive with a specified drug above the specified limit.)
• Driving or attempting to drive with a specific drug above the specified limit
• Being in charge of a motor vehicle with a specified drug above the specified limit.

According to the new guidelines, offenders convicted of these offences can receive maximum custodial sentences of 2 years, 26 weeks, and 12 weeks, respectively.

Comments from Sentencing Council Chairman, Lord Justice William Davis

“Offences committed by drivers can have serious consequences for the victims, including death or life-changing injuries and this is reflected in recent legislative changes made by Parliament. The guidelines published today will provide judges and magistrates with up-to-date guidelines that cover the full range of these offences.”

New and Revised Driving Offences Guidelines

Revised guidelines:

• causing death by dangerous driving
• causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs
• causing death by careless driving
• causing death by driving whilst disqualified
• causing death by driving whilst unlicensed or uninsured
• dangerous driving

New guidelines:

• causing serious injury by dangerous driving
• causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified
• causing serious injury by careless driving
• causing injury by wanton or furious driving
• driving or attempting to drive with a specified drug above the specified limit
• being in charge of a motor vehicle with a specified drug above the specified limit

Motoring Offences Defence with Cartwright King

There’s an array of driving offences you can be charged with if you don’t comply with the rules of the road. If you’ve been charged with a driving offence, benefit from the experience of Cartwright King’s specialist Motoring Offence Solicitors, who have a proven track record of protecting the driving licences of many British motorists. We’ll do everything we can to clear you of wrongdoing or minimise action against you.

For fast, effective and efficient legal advice for motoring offences, get in touch with Cartwright King, now.