Having a major stress over a notice of intended prosecution

[ThePerkyCoralPoet]

Last week my dad was in hospital and had an endoscopy for suspected cancer. I was lost and in an area I didn’t know and slowed down to exit the junction I nearly missed. No accidents happened hwpbwr it wasn’t safe I know this and also I have no idea if it was that or even something else.

I’ve sent the form back and tried to get some legal advice. They’re stressing me out even more at this point saying well at the moment the hospital is irrelevant it depends on the severity and it’s in the hands of the police.

help?

This thread is full of one-off-mistake-bashing dashcam owners!

The fact that a dangerous piece of driving is a one-off occurrence doesn't make it any less dangerous. The consequences could still be fatal.

I assume this example also received a NIP for careless driving. It's an example of potential outcome.
The sentencing guidelines linked above are much more reliable, but it's not uncommon in here for people to give anecdotal experience to a panicking OP.

OP if it helps I am a lawyer and as a trainee solicitor I was prosecuted for driving without due care and attention as I had an accident on a motorway slip road that was my fault luckily no one was hurt. I was so stressed but went to court and said I sorry I was and how stressed I've been and I was given six points and had to take my test again but it didn't affect anything else.

First offence, the most that would happen would be a fine, ThePerky. Stop worrying. Keep querying it and they may get fed up and drop it.

If I see something exceptionally dangerous - yes! Not every time - I don't have enough time in my day to be forwarding every mistake I see, frankly.

Someone pulled out right in front of me today, which made me slam my brakes on so hard my hazards came on. While it was dangerous, it was clearly a mistake and he apologised, so I didn't report it. The idiot racer types swerving from lane to lane and using the hard shoulder to undertake in busy traffic will always be reported (and in most cases - prosecuted).

Through my many hours of watching stupid Channel 5 Motorway Cops type programmes I imagine OP, assuming she's otherwise got a clean licence, will be offered a course. I've seen much worse on those programmes and they've just offered courses.

OP - respond back confirming it was you driving and see what happens. I'm in a very "honest" professional and driving offenses are specifically excluded from the "Fit & Proper" forms that I have to fill in each year.

Does it include a S172 Notice requiring you to name the driver?

If so deal with that first and 'dob yourself in' as the driver. That's the urgent bit as the penalty for failure to return is something like 6 points.

As to the offence itself I'd guess three points and a fine if you plead guilty.

I doubt any profession would regard an offence at a level similar to speeding as a matter for acton.

Someone I know had one to do with a bicycle , they overtook and were too close too it. They got a driving awareness course

I would not stress overly.Learn from this ,and in future maybe see if you can get a train or bus/taxi if you have a stressful trip coming up.When my Son was small I had to get a new pushchair.left him with my friend ,Still BF .In a rush to get back to him went through a red light .Explained this to the Council who waived it! Another time caught speeding got a fine and points on the licence .I think you are worrying too much

"They" are not stressing you out!

This website suggests that if, as you say, it was simply a case of slowing down and slowing traffic a bit (maybe someone had to brake to avoid you?) then it may just be 3 points and a fine. Same thing you get for doing 37mph in a 30 zone (at least the last time I got fined)

Careless Driving (drive without due care and attention) (Revised 2017) – Sentencing

Must admit I almost laughed when you said it was caught on a driver's dashcam. We've a nutcase local councilor who goes around the area on his bike filming cars doing "bad" things and submitting the footage to the police to get people fined. I've been blocked by him on the local social media as I questioned some of his actions but previously he seemed to be submitting at least a couple of things every day. The police apparently just look at the footage to see if there might be a case and send out the notice to the registered keeper. As far as they're concerned he's doing half their job for them.

The circumstances aren’t “irrelevant” at all. This will be taken into account with any sentencing. Also I’m not a lawyer but as this isn’t a “violent” crime it shouldn’t have an impact on you professionally? I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Hope your dad is ok xxxx

I agree. There are loads of these money making schemes everywhere now. With confusing, unclear signage and/or just really complicated systems. The fact these are raking in money tells you the signage is not clear enough. People don’t bowl about not giving a shit about being fined. If loads of people are missing them, then they aren’t cheer enough or there isn’t enough notice giving people time to process the sign, or there needs to be more of them. Driving did not use to be like this, for good reason. It’s purely a way for cash strapped councils to make money. Taxation by stealth.

"I’m in a very honest profession and that is very frightening for me."

Then you'd better be completely honest and admit your guilt. Driving without due care and attention isn't likely to be a problem for your employer. Lying would be.

Oh I hate people that do this on a motorway, or any junction, if you miss your turning just go to the next one and turn around. Why do people think they are entitled to cut across lanes and other drivers just because they weren't concentrating?

The circumstances of a person having an appointment for a planned medical procedure sounds like scraping the barrel for an excuse.

This is all very confusing .. but I suspect you are minimising what actually happened. Whatever you do, don’t say you were worried/upset about your dad, as right there you’ve admitted driving without due care and attention,🤷‍♀️

I think @EBearhug has said it best. Take more care of yourself.
The driving offence in the grand scheme of things is minor. It's sounds like you were doing what they letter said, turn up and tell them the truth. Take some evidence like a hospital letter with you.
Good luck you and your DD

I very nearly did that a few weeks ago.

I was driving in the nearby city for the first time in ages, and they've completely changed the road layout, traffic rules etc in part of it.

I saw a sign for a "bus gate" on the road I was on, and initially didn't know what the fuck that was. A hundred yards or so later,I saw the familiar "buses and bicycles only" sign, went to turn right into a road I've turned right into dozens of times before, only to see it's now no entry. No worries, I thought, I can go up the next one. Then that was no entry too. Every right turn was no entry and couldn't find any way of avoiding the bus gate. I ended up going miles out of my way and got a £30 ticket for my troubles.

A colleague who lives in the city says there's been a huge furore about this and people have been kicking off about it because the alternative route to the bus gate isn't signposted. She says the city council don't give a fuck, they just don't want cars in the city centre and are happy to rake in the cash

Which would be fine, had I not had to go there for work, a journey which would have involved 2 buses and a train each way, plus last bus home from the station is at 5pm and work won't pay for taxis!

Yes:( and worst of all. On a really shit day where I’m panicking about my father potentially having cancer or worse being under sedation and issues occurring. My mind wasn’t in a good place. No I should have never got behind a wheel. But honestly I hold my hands up that I was wrong

Cancer? I don’t think cancer is scraping the barrel. I didn’t know what the outcome would be. It was a suspected bleed that needed investigating. I’m human

The extent to which people in this place leap to judgmentalism never ceases to amaze me.

It's worrying of course, but it was a planned investigative procedure for suspected cancer. There was no emergency.

I'm not sure it's going to be mitigating because you're basically admitting you were too stressed to drive safely.

The truth is that in times of extreme stress (as you were), we all do things that don't seem very sensible when we look back on them. You're being honest and doing the right things now, and I hope that you can stop panicking and that things go well for you. (Things nearly always work out far better than our worst imaginings!)

OP look after yourself and try not to stress too much. Ignore the posters trying to kick you whilst you’re down, I see bad driving and mistakes every single day, it was one of those and luckily no one was hurt. I’m sure you won’t repeat the same mistake again.
I think driving in the UK is really difficult on roads you don’t know, there are numerous signs which aren’t clear and lane markings going in all sorts of directions, every roundabout is different. Give yourself some compassion, it wasn’t deliberate, you didn’t hurt anyone and you’re accepting the fine or points.