Motoring offences

The definitive guidelines on the sentencing of motoring offences were issued on 15 June 2023 and came into force on 1 July 2023.

• causing death by dangerous driving,
• causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs,
• causing death by careless driving,
• causing death by driving whilst disqualified,
• causing death by driving whilst unlicensed or uninsured,
• dangerous driving,
• causing serious injury by dangerous driving,
• causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified,
• causing serious injury by careless driving,
• causing injury by wanton or furious driving,
• driving or attempting to drive with a specified drug above the specified limit,
• being in charge of a motor vehicle with a specified drug above the specified limit.

On 19 February 2025 the Council published revised guidelines on motoring offence committed while driving vehicles without the owner’s consent. These guidelines came into force on 1 April 2025.

• Aggravated vehicle taking – death caused
• Aggravated vehicle taking – injury caused
• Aggravated vehicle taking – dangerous driving
• Aggravated vehicle taking – vehicle/property damage caused

On 24 June 2025 the Council published a revised guideline on careless driving. The guideline came into force on 1 July 2025.

• Careless Driving (drive without due care and attention)

Related documents

To support the guidelines and consultations, the Council also publishes a range of documents. These documents may include consultation responses, statistical bulletins, resource and equality impact assessments and guideline assessments.

Related documents: Motoring offences

Archived

Previous archived versions of guidelines can be found below:

• Sentencing Council: Careless driving (drive without due care and attention (revised 2017)
• Sentencing Council: Drug driving (guidance only)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council: Causing death by driving: Definitive guideline
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Vehicle taking (aggravated): Damage caused to property other than the vehicle or damage caused to the vehicle (page 111)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Vehicle taking (aggravated): Dangerous driving (page 112)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Careless driving (drive without due care and attention) (page 117)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving (pages 118-118A)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers (pages 119-119A)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Dangerous driving (pages 120-121)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Drive whilst disqualified (page 122)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Excess alcohol (drive/attempt to drive) (pages 124-125)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Excess alcohol (in charge) (pages 126)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Fail to provide stop/report road accident (page 127)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Fail to provide specimen for analysis (drive/attempt to drive) (page 128)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Fail to provide specimen for analysis (in charge) (page 129)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: No insurance (page 130)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Speeding (page 131)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Unfit through drink or drugs (drive/attempt to drive) (pages 132-133)
• Sentencing Guidelines Council Magistrates Court Sentencing Guidelines: Unfit through drink or drugs (in charge) (page 134)