What Are The Most Common Traffic Offenses?

Damian
April 2, 2013

(Australian law and generally) Cars are a necessary part of our lives, and we can safely say that a huge majority of the population in all developed countries drives a car. Unfortunately driving tests don’t seem to be a reliable way to instill competence in a lot of new drivers, and even older, more experienced drivers can be quite irresponsible. There are a lot of traffic offenses made every year, more than anyone was prepared to count it seems, most of them small, but some of them requiring counsel from a criminal defense lawyer to avoid getting your license taken away. Here are the most common traffic offenses we see on the streets and some tips on avoiding them.

DUI

Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is a very dangerous as it can be a lethal experience not only for the driver, but for pedestrians and other drivers on the road. You see this all the time: a few friends exit a bar barely able to stand up and one of them gets in the car and offers to drive everyone home. You can expect a hefty fine and even some jail time depending on the situation, but it can cost lives and then you are looking at manslaughter charges or several months in the hospital. If you need more information about this particular topic, here is a link to drink driving lawyers Sydney, a trusted law resource to continue with your education.

Designated drivers, taxis or sleeping it of at a friend’s house are much better alternatives. Be sure to give your keys to a responsible friend if you intend to get seriously drunk.

Speeding

We are all in a rush to get somewhere, and we want to spend as little time on the road as possible, but exceeding the speed limit significantly will mean getting a ticket, so be prepared for that. Don’t try and argue too much with the policemen, be polite or even better, try to stay within the limit – most of the time you can afford the 5-10 minutes that you would have saved by driving too fast.

Reckless driving

These days most people have plenty of little gadgets, snacks, make up or other items scattered around the car, and trying to drive and perform other tasks may seem like a time saver, but is actually dangerous. Just like driving while drunk, your concentration will be affected and the last thing you want to do is to take your eyes of the road, even for a second, and risk swerving into another cur or running over a pedestrian. Reckless driving can lead to more serious offenses that will put you in front of a judge. Whatever it is you need to do, it can probably wait until you are finished driving, just keep your eyes on the road and drive safely.

Driving without a license

This might mean that you had a license, but that it has expired or that you never previously held a license which can mean stricter penalties. You can also be held accountable if you have permitted an unlicensed person to drive your car, e.g. you were too drunk to drive and asked a friend to drive you home. Once again, paying for a taxi is much safer and easier than risking getting a fine.

Just as long as you have a bit of common sense and resolve to drive safely and responsibly you can avoid most of these traffic offenses, and more importantly you can avoid dangerous situations that can end in injury or death.