Legislation – Road Safety Act 2006

Road Safety Act 2006, Section 20 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 15 December 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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New offences

20Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving

(1)

In the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52), after section 2A insert—

“2BCausing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving

A person who causes the death of another person by driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place, is guilty of an offence.”

(2)

In section 24(1) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)
(alternative verdicts), in the Table—

(a)

in the entry relating to section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)
(causing death by dangerous driving), in the second column, after “Section 2 (dangerous driving)” insert “
Section 2B (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving)
”,

(b)

after the entry relating to section 2 of that Act insert—

“Section 2B (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving)

Section 3 (careless, and inconsiderate, driving),”

(c)

in the entry relating to section 3A of that Act (causing death by careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs), in the second column, before “Section 3 (careless, and inconsiderate, driving)” insert “
Section 2B (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving)
”.

(3)

In Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (offences to which certain sections apply), after the entry relating to section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 insert—

“RTA section 2B

Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving.

Sections 11 and 12(1) of this Act.”

(4)

In Part 1 of Schedule 2 to that Act (prosecution and punishment of offences: offences under the Traffic Acts), after the entry relating to section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 insert—

“RTA section 2B

Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving.

(a) Summarily.

(a) 12 months (in England and Wales) or 6 months (in Scotland) or the statutory maximum or both.

Obligatory.

Obligatory.

3-11

(b) On indictment.

(b) 5 years or a fine or both.

”

(5)

In sections 16(1)(a)(ii) and 17(1)(b) and (2)(b) of the Coroners Act 1988 (c. 13)
(informing coroners)—

(a)

after “1” insert “
, 2B
”, and

(b)

after “dangerous driving” insert “
, careless driving
”.

(6)

In paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32)
(offences where notice must be given to authority of State in which offender is normally resident), after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba)

section 2B (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving),”.

“RTA section 2B	Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving.	(a) Summarily.	(a) 12 months (in England and Wales) or 6 months (in Scotland) or the statutory maximum or both.	Obligatory.	Obligatory.	3-11
		(b) On indictment.	(b) 5 years or a fine or both.			”