Lifetime Driving Bans in the UK

Lifetime driving bans are usually given for the most serious driving offences. This can include causing death by dangerous driving, an offence that can also result in a prison sentence.

Dangerous Driving and Disqualifications

Dangerous driving is one of the most serious traffic offences. The definition of Dangerous Driving under the law is a driver who drives well below the acceptable standards expected of a competent driver. It may be the case that the driver has committed a dangerous driving offence even though they think they are driving carefully. Dangerous drivers can be prosecuted in the Magistrate’s Courts or even the Crown Courts. The penalties and punishments given for dangerous driving do reflect the seriousness of this crime.

Lifetime Bans and Dangerous Driving

Lifetime bans are rare but can be imposed by the courts. Prison sentences for drivers who cause injury by dangerous driving can be up to two years. The maximum prison sentence for anyone who causes death by dangerous driving is 14 years. The minimum compulsory driving disqualification for dangerous driving is 12 months. There has been an outcry for these punishments to be increased, especially for those who cause death or injury by dangerous driving. There are guidelines that magistrates must follow, and on rare occasions judges have imposed lifetime driving bans.

Lifetime Ban for Dangerous Driving Example

A case tried by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK found a driver guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. Dennis Putz was over the legal Drink Driving limit and talking on his mobile phone when he ran over Catriona Patel causing her death. Mr Putz was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to seven years in jail. The judge also imposed a lifetime driving ban for Mr Putz. Putz, who previously had 20 driving disqualifications, also had three drink driving convictions and three reckless driving convictions.

Why A Lifetime Ban May be Imposed

A lifetime ban can be imposed if the courts consider the driver to be a threat to others. It could also be the case that the driver is likely to re-offend. Drivers who are disqualified many times and continue to drive when disqualified can face lifetime driving bans. But these disqualifications can also come with prison sentences and hefty fines, especially for drivers who ignore the disqualification and continue to drive.

Penalty Points and Lifetime Driving Bans

It is not unheard of for magistrates to impose lifetime bans on the basis of penalty points. Penalty Points can stay on a drivers licence for up to 11 years for offences such as causing death. Most other offences that incur penalty points will stay on a licence for four years. Certain offences such as speeding that would usually result in penalty points can actually result in disqualifications. Continually speeding after previous convictions can lead the magistrates to imposing a lifetime driving ban.

UK Driving Disqualification Offences

Although lifetime driving bans are rare there are still traffic offences that come with short and long term driving disqualifications including:

• Drink driving offences usually come with 12 to 36 months obligatory driving bans
• 12 or more penalty points within a three year period will mean an automatic driving disqualification of at least 6 months
• New drivers with six or more points within two years of passing a test will be disqualified
• Failure to provide a specimen to the police comes with an obligatory driving ban
• Dangerous driving comes with an obligatory or compulsory driving ban
• Careless driving comes with a discretionary driving ban
• Speeding offences can result in discretionary driving bans
• Driving without car insurance can come with a discretionary driving ban
• Traffic light offences can come with a discretionary driving ban

Although rare, lifetime driving bans are not unheard of. Lifetime driving bans will likely be considered by the courts if a driver has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. It will come under the courts discretion whether or not to impose a lifetime ban depending on the serious nature of the driving offence.