Recent research has uncovered surprising gaps in public knowledge regarding the consequences for HGV drivers convicted of careless driving.
- A significant portion of the public remains uninformed about the severity of legal repercussions faced by HGV drivers compared to ordinary motorists.
- A misunderstanding of what constitutes ‘serious’ injury under the law persists, with many unaware that even minor injuries can lead to severe penalties.
- Most people wrongly assume that fines are the primary punishment for careless driving, not realising the potential for imprisonment and driving bans.
- The new hierarchical structure for road users in the Highway Code holds HGV drivers to higher accountability, but this isn’t widely recognised.
Research conducted by McCarron Coates has shed light on a worrying lack of awareness among the public regarding the stringent penalties faced by HGV drivers for careless driving offences. This gap in understanding persists two years after a key legal change that introduced more severe consequences for such violations.
An alarming 75% of respondents to the survey conducted by McCarron Coates incorrectly believed that a ‘serious’ injury implied an exceedingly severe condition, when in fact, even a minor injury, such as a broken finger, can trigger harsh penalties. This misconception significantly underplays the serious implications for HGV drivers, who can face more severe penalties than other road users.
Further compounding this misunderstanding is the belief, held by 20% of those surveyed, that the outcome of careless driving offences is primarily a financial penalty. In reality, no such fines are imposed; rather, offenders are at risk of a driving ban and even a prison sentence of up to two years. Despite the severity of these penalties, 85% of respondents were unaware that imprisonment is a possible outcome for careless or inconsiderate driving.
The revised law, applied in 2022, incorporates the hierarchy of road users concept established in the 2021 Highway Code. This new directive places commercial vehicle drivers at the base of the hierarchy, thus attributing them with greater responsibility for ensuring the safety of other road users. Despite this pivotal shift, awareness of the change remains disappointingly low, with 86% of people oblivious to the fact that HGV drivers receive harsher punishments than their counterparts.
The research also uncovers that a significant majority, 83%, are not conscious of the fact that ‘serious injury’ encompasses psychological harm as well as physical. This issue came to the forefront in February, when car driver Cameron Bryce was sentenced for an incident leading to both fatal and psychological injury, showcasing the law’s broad scope.
Ian McCarron from McCarron Coates articulated the urgency of addressing this widespread ignorance, highlighting the potential impacts on both professional lives and personal liberties. He remarked on the various contributing factors to this knowledge gap, such as the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, which may have obscured public attention from these crucial legal updates.
Ensuring public awareness of these critical legal changes is vital for safeguarding lives and livelihoods on the road.
