Page 3 | AIBU to wonder whether I should report an accidental offence?

AccidentalCriminal · 2026-07-08T14:57:23+00:00

So I recently found out that I unknowingly and unwittingly broke the law last year. No victim involved and I honestly and truly didn't know I'd done it. Would you report yourself or just accept you got away with it? A criminal conviction would destroy my career. But I also feel terrible that I've done something illegal. WWYD?

Original poster

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 20:13

SquashedSquashess · 08/07/2026 19:57

This post is a great example of why so many people, myself included, are sick and tired of adult diagnoses being used to excuse poor behaviour.

“I can’t help getting speeding tickets and being banned because of my ADHD”.

If your neurodivergence is so severe that you can’t keep an eye on the speedometer and therefore can’t drive safely, surely your ADHD means you should be banned from driving? Maybe report yourself to the DVLA for that OP.

With respect, I did not say- and have never said- that the speeding was down to ADHD. I said it is the reason I was disorganised and hadn't changed my address.

I did 25 in a 20 as the speed limit had recently changed. I know plenty of people who are caught out by that, ADHD or not!

OP posts:

Original poster

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 20:11

Nanda66 · 08/07/2026 19:36

I had a family member killed by a speeding driver so I take a dim view of ADHD as an excuse for anything. if you can’t trust yourself to remember to change addresses, keep on top of insurance etc then you shouldn’t be driving otherwise you need to find a way.

That being said, it’s done now. Put it behind you and move on.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I am very careful never to use it as an excuse for anything, especially because that makes it hard for us to be taken seriously. Sometimes though, it is a reason and in this case it is the reason for me failing to change my address.

I'm not going around doing hundreds of miles, I did 25 in a 20 because the speed limit had recently changed and I didn't notice.

OP posts:

LIZS · 08/07/2026 19:59

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 17:29

Of course it's true! Why on earth would I make up something so mundane!?

The ban was June 25 to December 25. The conviction was in May 25. I found out about in in April this year when I went to renew my expired licence. I moved in November 24 and hadn't updated my details witnthe DVLA or my car V5.

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Which is in itself an offence

SquashedSquashess · 08/07/2026 19:57

This post is a great example of why so many people, myself included, are sick and tired of adult diagnoses being used to excuse poor behaviour.

“I can’t help getting speeding tickets and being banned because of my ADHD”.

If your neurodivergence is so severe that you can’t keep an eye on the speedometer and therefore can’t drive safely, surely your ADHD means you should be banned from driving? Maybe report yourself to the DVLA for that OP.

GisGasGus · 08/07/2026 19:50

Inprep · 08/07/2026 18:57

Driving whilst banned?! This is serious and could definitely have had victims. Firstly…. You have been deemed unfit to drive!! Secondly if you’d had an accident your car insurance would have been invalid so huge hassle for the other party.

When did the ban expire?

I don’t see how you even got car insurance. I had to input my DL number when applying for car Insurance

Edited

You had to or you choose to? I've insured cars for decades and never given insurers my driving licence number

ThreadGuardDog · 08/07/2026 19:46

anniegun · 08/07/2026 16:01

Accidental money laundering on behalf of a convicted fraudster? Resign and ask the people of Clacton.

Oh I wish I’d said that. Well done !!

TeaIsLovely · 08/07/2026 19:37

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 16:11

I don't mind saying what it is, since this is anonymous. I just wanted a general feel.

I had a "totting up" driving ban. Through my ADHD lead poor organisation, I didn't know at the time and I drove throughout. I only found out when I came to renew my driving license which had expired- the form came back as I'd filled it in for an expired license not to have my licence reinstated.

oh goodness - forget about it and move on.

PeriPeriMayo · 08/07/2026 19:37

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:12

You can’t get car insurance whilst you
are banned 🙄

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No, but she didn't come to renew her insurance until after the ban had expired.

Nanda66 · 08/07/2026 19:36

I had a family member killed by a speeding driver so I take a dim view of ADHD as an excuse for anything. if you can’t trust yourself to remember to change addresses, keep on top of insurance etc then you shouldn’t be driving otherwise you need to find a way.

That being said, it’s done now. Put it behind you and move on.

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:30

Can’t recall the last time I’ve got car insurance without inputting my DL number personally

Kevinbaconsrealwife · 08/07/2026 19:29

anniegun · 08/07/2026 16:01

Accidental money laundering on behalf of a convicted fraudster? Resign and ask the people of Clacton.

😂

Gwenna · 08/07/2026 19:29

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 16:21

No, everything went to my previous address and they convicted me in my absence. I didn't even know I had the speeding ticket that tipped me over tbe limit.

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Take it easy OP, you didn’t know. Do something nice for yourself this evening.

formigas · 08/07/2026 19:26

Inprep · 08/07/2026 18:57

Driving whilst banned?! This is serious and could definitely have had victims. Firstly…. You have been deemed unfit to drive!! Secondly if you’d had an accident your car insurance would have been invalid so huge hassle for the other party.

When did the ban expire?

I don’t see how you even got car insurance. I had to input my DL number when applying for car Insurance

Edited

It's not mandatory to enter your driver number when you apply for insurance - at least not with the insurers I've used. It probably should be mandatory as it would mean this sort of thing would at least get flagged at renewal.

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:24

anothernewname6789998212 · 08/07/2026 19:22

She didn’t say she got insurance whilst banned - chances are the policy she had in place at the time was taken out prior to the ban.

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I was responding to another poster who said you can get it whilst banned but your premiums will be higher

and

anothernewname6789998212 · 08/07/2026 19:22

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:12

You can’t get car insurance whilst you
are banned 🙄

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She didn’t say she got insurance whilst banned - chances are the policy she had in place at the time was taken out prior to the ban.

Original poster

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 19:21

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 19:15

I suppose you can, or else OP couldn't have and would have noticed sooner what had happened.

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To clarify, I got my new car and new insurance AFTER I got my license back.

OP posts:

Original poster

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 19:20

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:11

Is there any driving involved in your job?

No.

OP posts:

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 19:15

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:12

You can’t get car insurance whilst you
are banned 🙄

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I suppose you can, or else OP couldn't have and would have noticed sooner what had happened.

nomas · 08/07/2026 19:15

I'm not following as I've not been in this situation but if it's just self-flagellation, don't do it.

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:12

PeriPeriMayo · 08/07/2026 19:10

Of course you can get insurance if you've had a ban. It just increases the premiums.

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You can’t get car insurance whilst you
are banned 🙄

Inprep · 08/07/2026 19:11

Is there any driving involved in your job?

PeriPeriMayo · 08/07/2026 19:10

Inprep · 08/07/2026 18:57

Driving whilst banned?! This is serious and could definitely have had victims. Firstly…. You have been deemed unfit to drive!! Secondly if you’d had an accident your car insurance would have been invalid so huge hassle for the other party.

When did the ban expire?

I don’t see how you even got car insurance. I had to input my DL number when applying for car Insurance

Edited

Of course you can get insurance if you've had a ban. It just increases the premiums.

formigas · 08/07/2026 19:10

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 18:32

Sorry; I can see what I wrote was confusing, but I wasn't concerned about the fines or collection of them. I was just slightly surprised that her sending for a renewal when it ought to have been a reinstatement, and from a new address, didn't make them wonder what had happened.

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I think OP said the DVLA returned the form to her, because they caught the renewal-instead-of-reinstatement.

If it was the D1 form it is used for all manner of things including an address change so I don't think a different address would flag anything up, they'd just think you were trying to change your address.

The whole form is confusing, there are some things that can be done online and for these the form shows a graphic of a mouse (why would you bother getting the D1 pack if it's possible to do what you need to online unless you can't use the internet in which case why do you care that it can be done online?) but some things can only be done using the form.

They really need to redesign it - since it's multi purpose there are different fees for different things and it's actually quite a task to work out what you owe them and which postcode to send it to. And then it's postal order time! And then you have to write some number (probably the serial number of the form, I have forgotten now) on the postal order in case whoever opens the post at DVLA flings it round the room and separates the form from the postal order. And then you can post it and if you're really lucky and haven't done anything wrong your licence comes back in a couple of weeks.

SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 08/07/2026 19:07

AccidentalCriminal · 08/07/2026 18:17

How about you read the thread and see that I have quite clearly stated that my license and details are all correct now?

I was only guessing the answer to the PPs question.

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I did read the thread but given the reason for your OP was recommending you double check rather than guess. A quick Google search suggests that all points are indeed removed after a totting up ban is served

Albeit a couple of decades ago I was hit by an uninsured driver and left with a serious wrist injury and thousands out of pocket..its somewhat tainted my view of drivers who aren't legally on the road.

In answer to your OP though there is absolutrlrly no point in reporting yourself. What's done is done and it was clearly unintentional.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/07/2026 19:05

Inprep · 08/07/2026 18:57

Driving whilst banned?! This is serious and could definitely have had victims. Firstly…. You have been deemed unfit to drive!! Secondly if you’d had an accident your car insurance would have been invalid so huge hassle for the other party.

When did the ban expire?

I don’t see how you even got car insurance. I had to input my DL number when applying for car Insurance

Edited

She has had two speeding fines (presumably minor if they carried only three points rather than four, six or a 56-day ban), and a "failure to respond" penalty.

The latter is completely irrelevant to her ability to drive safely or fitness to drive; it has nothing to do with her actual driving at all.

If speeding twice meant you were unfit to drive, why is it only three points per speeding offence, not six or twelve?