​KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Offences Relating to Road Traffic


Offences relating to road traffic are criminal offences connected with the driving or use of vehicles on public roads. These offences are created mainly by road traffic legislation and are intended to promote public safety, proper vehicle regulation, and orderly road use.


Common examples include *careless and inconsiderate driving, *dangerous driving, *speeding, *drunken driving, *driving without insurance, *driving without a licence, *driving while disqualified, *ignoring traffic signals, *parking offences, and *obstruction. More serious offences involve causing death, such as *causing death by dangerous driving or *causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs.


Certain road traffic offences require the accused to receive a *notice of intended prosecution before prosecution can proceed. This is especially common for offences such as speeding or dangerous driving where the driver was not stopped at the time of the incident.


Penalties for road traffic offences vary according to seriousness. Courts may impose fines, *endorsement of a driving licence with penalty points, *disqualification from driving, imprisonment, or orders requiring the offender to retake a driving test. Some offences also involve vehicle seizure or increased insurance consequences.


Many minor road traffic offences are offences of *strict liability, meaning that the prosecution does not need to prove criminal intention. The mere commission of the prohibited act may be enough for liability to arise.