Criminal lawyers Glasgow and Criminal lawyers Inverness see many things in the office, and one of the major things needing to be dealt with is based see injury or damage caused by road traffic offences. Many of us may even commit these offences without even realising it, and with this being true it can be useful to take the time to think about the kinds of offenses that are the most common – and we have put together a list for you.

Speeding

Perhaps unsurprisingly, right at the top of the most common traffic offences is speeding. Many motorists admit that they have been guilty of speeding at least once in the past, with half admitting to speeding on the motorway. While many may not think that speeding is an issue, around a quarter of all deaths on the road are caused by speeding, meaning that choosing to travel a few miles per hour over the limit could be much more dangerous than you might have thought.

Drink-driving

Although most people know how dangerous drink-driving can actually be, it is still a fact that more than 100,000 people in the UK alone fail a roadside breathalyser test each year. In addition to this, there are more than 3,000 incidents that are thought to be directly caused by drink-driving. It is always important to understand the limits when it comes to having a drink when you are going to take the wheel later in the day, because the risks, and the penalties, are severe. If you are found guilty of driving while under the influence of alcohol, you could be fined, banned from driving, or even given a prison sentence depending on the severity of your offence.

Using your phone while driving

Although almost everybody knows the risks of doing so, many people still choose to use their mobile phones while behind the wheel of a vehicle. More than half a million drivers are caught doing exactly this each year, however stricter penalties that have been put in place recently are expected to improve these numbers greatly.

Failing to put correct insurance in place

Thanks to the fact that it can end up costing so much money, this is one of the offences that is thought to be the most severe of all. This is shown in the penalties that you can receive if you are found guilty, which include 8 points, a £5,000 fine, or even a disqualification from driving for a certain amount of time. Research has shown that cost is a key reason to fail to organise insurance, with many drivers knowing that any fine they may have to pay if they are discovered would be less than the premium being quoted by their potential insurers.

Failing to stop after an accident

If you are in any kind of accident on the road, no matter how small, you have a legal duty to stop and exchange insurance details – or wait for the police to attend if there have been injuries. Despite this, many drivers choose not to wait, and this could incur 10 points and a £2,500 fine – or worse if the accident resulted in severe injury or death.

The majority of motoring offences can be avoided by using simple common sense. When you think about how quickly things can change when you are on the road, it is important to abide by all laws and guidelines, as this gives you the best possible chance of completing a safe journey. If you’re not sure about exactly what all of the laws of the road are, it may be a great idea to obtain an up to date copy of the highway code, to give you all of the information that you need.