Driving without due care and attention


Driving without due care and attention or careless driving is a legal term for a particular type of moving traffic violation in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. It is often punishable by fines or endorsements on a driver's license.
It is usually a less serious offence than reckless driving or dangerous driving , though more serious than driving whilst using a mobile phone.

United Kingdom

In England and Wales and Scotland this offence was created by section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It carries a punishment of between three and nine penalty points and a fine of up to £5,000.
The Road Traffic Act 1991 amended the same act to insert section 3A, which creates the offence of "causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs", punishable by up to 14 years in prison with mandatory disqualification and 3–11 penalty points. The Road Safety Act 2006 additionally inserted section 2A, creating the offence of "causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving", without the requirement of intoxication; the sentence is 12 months' imprisonment plus a fine up to the statutory maximum on summary conviction, or 5 years' imprisonment and/or a fine on indictment, plus mandatory disqualification and 3–11 penalty points.
Examples of concentration lapses include being distracted by passengers, adjusting the radio and looking at satellite navigation systems. It is not necessary for a collision or other incident to occur for the offence to be prosecuted. For example, a close pass of a cyclist, typically defined as passing within 1.5 metres, is frequently prosecuted as careless driving; in extreme cases, convictions of dangerous driving for close passing without contact have survived appeal.