You can be charged with driving a dangerous vehicle for a range of reasons; this usually consists of driving a car below the minimum safety guidelines, causing danger to you and other road users such as cars, vans and motorcycles. Any alterations to your vehicle can be dangerous and therefore illegal; it is essential to always double-check if the changes you are making are safe. Things like faulty tyres and car parts can class your vehicle as dangerous. If you have been charged with driving a car in a dangerous condition, contact our experienced motoring solicitors now.
Penalties for driving a dangerous vehicle
The charges for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition can vary. Depending on the severity of the offence, you can pay a £2,500 to unlimited fine (if you drive an LGV or PVC), face 3 points on your licence, and a discretionary or an obligatory disqualification depending on previous convictions relating to driving dangerous vehicles in the last 3 years. Being disqualified from driving can put a severe strain on your life.
What counts as a dangerous vehicle?
There is a range of things that can make your vehicle dangerous, and a variety of circumstances determine the severity of the offence. These usually depend on the condition of the vehicle, the number of passengers in it, the purpose of its use, the weight and distribution of its load, and how it is secured.
During minor dangerous vehicle offences, the VDRS (Vehicle defect rectification notice) enables the driver to avoid penalty points and fines and gives 14 days to fix the hazardous faults in the vehicle. When the vehicle is fixed, you must provide evidence of it; usually by carrying out an MOT.
There are some common examples of what could be a dangerous vehicle:
- Faulty lights, which in some cases, the driver is not unaware of
- Tyres – to make sure that the vehicle is safe, it is essential to keep the tyre tread to a reasonable level. Depending on how poor the state of the tyre is, you might be given a VDRS. If the tyre is in a genuinely poor state and below the legal tread limit, you can face up to 3 points per tyre, with 12 points for the whole vehicle. That can result in totting up and losing your licence.
- Brakes – Defective brakes can pose a threat to you ad other road users. Poor breaks do not allow the vehicle to stop at a good time.
- Weight limit – if you exceed the weight limit and overload a vehicle; you are imposing a risk to other road users; any load should be secured correctly.
There are other ways in which your vehicle can be dangerous, like carrying an excessive amount of passengers, not carrying heavy items correctly or loading insecure items. If you have been charged with driving a dangerous vehicle, contact one of our solicitors to explore your options. We will ensure you come out with the best possible outcome for your case, in the most stress-free and easy way.
What Can I do if I have been charged driving a dangerous vehicle?
If you have been charged with driving a dangerous vehicle, we advise that you contact Solicitors On Your Side now. Our solicitors can use their extensive motoring expertise to help you explore your options for your case and enable you to come out with the best possible outcome. There is a range of defences that our solicitors can use to help with your case, including proving that the vehicle was not in a dangerous state, or it was driven as a part of a necessity, in case of an emergency.
Have you been charged with a motoring offence?
If you have been charged with a motoring offence, contact On Your side now to help you lower your motoring offence penalties. We understand that these situations can be very time consuming and stressful but at On Your Side, we will try to make the process as quick as possible.
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Get in touch with us now if you have been charged with a motoring offence, remember that there are always better options out there!
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