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Dangerous Driving Defence Lawyers

At Draycott Browne, our specialist Dangerous Driving Solicitors have over 20 years of experience defending individuals facing serious motoring charges. As a leading criminal defence firm, we are recognised for our expertise in complex driving offence cases, providing strategic and robust legal representation across England and Wales.

Dangerous driving is one of the most serious non-fatal motoring offences, carrying severe penalties, including lengthy driving bans, substantial fines, and even imprisonment. A conviction can have life-changing consequences, affecting your ability to work, travel, and maintain your independence. That is why securing expert legal representation at the earliest opportunity is crucial.

Our highly skilled Dangerous Driving Solicitors provide unwavering support at every stage of the legal process, from police interviews to court proceedings. We examine the evidence, challenge procedural errors, and build the strongest possible defence to achieve the best outcome for you.

With over two decades of experience, we have built a strong reputation for success in serious motoring offence cases. As a Law Society Criminal Litigation Accredited and SRA-regulated firm, we uphold the highest professional standards, ensuring you receive the very best legal representation. Our Dangerous Driving Solicitors are available 24/7, providing immediate legal advice and dedicated support whenever you need it.

If you are facing a dangerous driving charge, do not hesitate to seek expert legal assistance. Contact our Dangerous Driving Lawyers today to discuss your case with an experienced member of our team.​​

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Criminal Defence Expertise for Motor Offences

Our Specialist Dangerous Driving Defence Solicitors 

Shaun Draycott

Shaun Draycott

Managing Director & Serious Crime Solicitor
Rob Mann

Rob Mann

Director & Serious Crime Solicitor
Venessa Schweitzer

Venessa Schweitzer

Consultant Litigator
Caitlin Cardwell

Caitlin Cardwell

Crown Court Litigator
Meet the Team

What is Dangerous Driving?

Dangerous driving is an offence under section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Section 2A explains that driving is dangerous where:

  • The way a person drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving in that way would be dangerous, or
  • It would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that driving the vehicle in its current state would be dangerous.

What’s Classed as Dangerous Driving?

There are many ways in which a person may commit the offence of dangerous driving. Below are some of the most common factors that could lead to prosecution:

 

Reckless and Aggressive Driving

Some drivers knowingly take risks on the road, which can significantly endanger other road users. Examples include:

  • Racing or competitive driving on public roads.
  • Aggressive manoeuvres such as tailgating, cutting in dangerously, or excessive lane-switching.
  • Excessive speeding, especially in areas with high pedestrian traffic or poor visibility.

Disregard for Road Rules and Signs

Ignoring traffic laws is a clear indicator of dangerous driving. Offences in this category include:

  • Running red lights or deliberately ignoring road signs.
  • Overtaking in an unsafe manner, such as on blind bends or in areas with limited visibility.
  • Failing to stop at a give way or stop sign when required.

Distraction and Carelessness

A moment of inattention can have devastating consequences. Examples of dangerous distractions include:

  • Using a mobile phone while driving, whether for texting, calling, or other activities.
  • Reading maps, newspapers, or other materials while behind the wheel.
  • Adjusting in-car electronic equipment such as satnavs, radios, or hands-free devices.
  • Engaging in activities that take attention away from the road, such as talking to passengers or lighting a cigarette.

Driving While Impaired

Drivers who get behind the wheel while unfit to drive can be held liable for dangerous driving. This includes:

  • Driving when suffering from a medical condition that significantly impairs reaction times or control.
  • Ignoring prescribed medication or knowingly driving while experiencing severe side effects.
  • Driving while fatigued, especially if aware that tiredness could affect their driving ability.

Vehicle Condition and Safety Neglect

A vehicle in an unsafe condition can pose a major hazard to both the driver and others on the road. Dangerous driving may arise if:

  • The driver knowingly operates a vehicle with a serious defect, such as faulty brakes or bald tyres.
  • The vehicle is dangerously overloaded or poorly maintained.
  • The driver fails to consider the safety of vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, or horse riders.

If you are facing a dangerous driving charge, securing expert legal representation is crucial. At Draycott Browne, our Dangerous Driving Solicitors have extensive experience in defending clients against serious motoring offences.

For immediate advice from our Dangerous Driving Defence Lawyers, contact us today. Our team is available 24/7 to provide expert guidance and robust legal representation.

How is the Seriousness of a Dangerous Driving Offence Determined?

When assessing the seriousness of a dangerous driving offence, the court considers two key elements: culpability (the level of blameworthiness) and harm (the extent of damage caused). These factors help determine the severity of the penalty imposed.

 

Factors That Indicate Higher Culpability

Certain behaviours demonstrate a greater level of recklessness or disregard for safety, increasing the seriousness of the offence. These include:

  • Ignoring warnings from passengers or other road users about the danger of continuing to drive in a particular manner.
  • Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, even if below the legal limit, as this impairs judgement and reaction times.
  • Driving while distracted, such as using a mobile phone, adjusting a satnav, or engaging in other activities that take attention away from the road.
  • Transporting passengers or carrying a heavy load, which can impact vehicle control and braking distances.
  • Driving while excessively fatigued, especially when aware of the risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
  • Engaging in aggressive driving behaviours, such as tailgating, racing, making reckless overtakes, or dangerously cutting into traffic.
  • Knowingly driving while suffering from a medical condition that significantly affects driving ability.

Factors That Indicate Greater Harm

While all cases of dangerous driving pose a risk, the extent of harm caused is a critical factor in sentencing. A case is considered more serious if:

  • Injury is caused to other road users or pedestrians as a result of the dangerous driving.
  • Significant damage occurs to vehicles or property, leading to financial and safety consequences.

Factors That May Indicate Lower Culpability

In some instances, while the standard of driving may still fall into the category of dangerous driving, the level of blame may be reduced. Examples include:

  • Genuine emergencies, where a driver’s actions, while still dangerous, were influenced by urgent and justifiable circumstances.
  • Speeding that was not grossly excessive, though still in breach of road laws.
  • Driving errors caused by inexperience rather than deliberate recklessness, such as misjudging road conditions due to lack of experience rather than wilful disregard for safety.

At Draycott Browne, our Dangerous Driving Solicitors have extensive experience in assessing case factors, identifying weaknesses in the prosecution's claims, and advocating for reduced charges or penalties. If you are facing a dangerous driving allegation, contact us today for expert legal guidance on the best course of action for your case.

What are the Penalties for Dangerous Driving?

Dangerous driving under section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 is an either-way offence. It carries a maximum sentence of 2 years' imprisonment on conviction on indictment, as well as an unlimited fine.

A conviction will also normally result in disqualification from driving for at least 12 months. The driver must then pass an extended driving test before they can regain a full driving licence.

Where dangerous driving causes serious injury, a separate offence under section 1A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 may be charged, carrying a maximum sentence of 5 years' imprisonment.

Where dangerous driving causes death, the separate offence of causing death by dangerous driving under section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The sentence imposed will depend on the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances of the case, including the standard of driving, the harm caused and any relevant aggravating or mitigating factors.

Specialist Dangerous Driving Lawyers

  • 24/7 Availability
  • Proven Success in High Profile Cases
  • Non-Judgemental Representation Tailored to Your Situation

Protect your future with trusted, expert legal defence—contact Draycott Browne’s Dangerous Driving Solicitors today.

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How is a Charge for Dangerous Driving Defended?

Defences for dangerous driving must be done by highly experienced specialists who fully understand the legalities surrounding these offences. The consequences of being convicted for dangerous driving can be extremely serious, with costly fines and considerable prison sentences. There are a number of arguments that we have made for clients in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Court to defend allegations of dangerous driving, including:

 

You were not Driving the Vehicle

You may end up accused of a dangerous driving offence because a vehicle registered to you was involved in the event. However, this does not mean that you were personally driving the vehicle, and it could be possible to prove this by highlighting discrepancies in testimonies, or by proving you were elsewhere at the time of the alleged offence.

 

Your Standard of Driving was Sufficient

We may be able to leverage visual evidence and witness statements to prove a competent and careful driver would have acted similarly in the same situation, therefore proving you were operating the vehicle at a reasonable standard.

 

You were Unaware of an Issue with your Vehicle

If the allegation pivots on the condition of the vehicle, such as malfunctioning safety features or lighting systems, you may not have been aware of the fault, or it may have happened suddenly. It could be possible to prove that a competent and careful driver would have also been unaware of the issue.

Other circumstances can be considered when building a defence for dangerous driving, such as “duress of circumstances” - meaning the driver was driving in a dangerous manner to escape threat, injury, or death. Many of these arguments may mitigate your sentence, or prove you are not guilty of the alleged offence at all. Contact Draycott Browne’s Dangerous Driving Solicitors today to begin building a strong defence against driving offence allegations.

Will a Dangerous Driving Charge leave a Criminal Record?

If you are found guilty of Dangerous Driving, the first thing to note is that you will leave with a criminal record.  You will need to disclose this to all future employers and it could potentially prohibit you from travelling to countries where a visa is required.

Alongside this, you will also face a mandatory driving ban.  The length of the ban will be linked to the severity of your offence, unless your defence is based upon exceptional circumstances which prohibit this.

What is an Extended Driving Test?

Should you be convicted of dangerous driving and given a driving ban, you will be forced to take an extended driving test upon completion of your ban before being allowed to drive again.

Before taking the test, you will be required to apply for a new provisional licence and re-sit your theory test. You can apply for your provisional licence 56 days before your disqualification ends, the DVSA will typically send you a reminder around this time.

As you have already been found guilty of dangerous driving in the past, the extended driving test will be more difficult than a traditional driving test.  This is to give the examiners a more thorough understanding of your driving abilities.

The test will be at least 60 minutes long and require you to cover a much wider variety of roads than the traditional driving test. Demonstrating your ability to safely perform an emergency stop is a mandatory part of the test.  You may also be required to perform all four driving manoeuvres (front bay park, reverse bay park, parallel park, pull up on the right).

Once you pass your test, you will be able to send off for your full driving licence and begin driving immediately.

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Contact our Dangerous Driving Solicitors

When faced with prosecution over a dangerous driving offence, it is crucial that you seek the best criminal defence representation available to you. Even a minor driving offence could result in disqualification under the totting up procedure. We can help.

Our specialist Dangerous Driving Solicitors are part of our wider, and nationally recognised team of expert criminal solicitors. We are highly regarded across the legal profession and noted for consistently excellent results.

Our motoring offence solicitors possess a high degree of technical knowledge that will provide you with the quality you deserve in your legal representation.

We take great pride in our dedication and professionalism and are committed to achieving the best result possible for all of our clients. As one of the principal criminal defence law firms in the country, we will work tirelessly on your behalf, with an attention to detail and tenacity that is second to none, to ensure you have a strong and effective defence.

With your licence or liberty at stake, you cannot afford to settle for anything less than Draycott Browne and the quality legal representation our team provides.

If you or a loved one are seeking first-class legal advice and representation from experienced Motoring Solicitors, call one of our Dangerous Driving Solicitors in Manchester.

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