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Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving

s.2CRoad Traffic Act 1988

Causing serious injury to 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 road users.

Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving · Road Traffic Act 1988, s.2CCard 104 / 195

Points to prove

Caused serious injury to 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

Key definitions

Serious injury – s.2C(2)(a): in England and Wales, physical harm that amounts to grievous bodily harm for the purposes of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
Without due care and attention – s.3ZA(2): the driving falls below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver. Section 3ZA applies to s.2C as it does to careless driving.
Circumstances – s.3ZA(3): the court considers what the driver could be expected to be aware of, and anything shown to be within the defendant’s own knowledge.
Without reasonable consideration – s.3ZA(4): only if other persons using the road or place are actually inconvenienced by the driving.
Causes – the careless driving must be more than a minimal cause of the injury. It need not be the only cause.

Good to know

A newer offence. It was inserted by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and is in force from 28 June 2022. It does not apply to driving before that date.
Obligatory disqualification for at least 12 months (RTOA 1988, s.34(1)). If special reasons mean no disqualification, 3 to 11 penalty points are endorsed.
If acquitted, the defendant may be convicted of careless driving (s.3) instead (RTOA 1988, s.24).
It fills the gap between careless driving (fine only) and causing serious injury by dangerous driving (s.1A, 5 years).

Legislation: Road Traffic Act 1988, s.2C (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Either way
Maximum penalty: 2 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving: questions people ask

What are the points to prove for causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving?

1. Caused serious injury to another person 2. By driving a mechanically propelled vehicle 3. On a road or other public place 4. Without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place

What is the maximum sentence for causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving?

2 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)

Is causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving a summary, either-way or indictable offence?

Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving is an either-way offence: it can be tried in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court.

What Act and section is causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving?

Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988, s.2C.

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