Risks drivers face for ignoring signs – includes total driving ban | Personal Finance | Finance

Motorists could be at risk of receiving a driving ban for ignoring traffic signs.

A key aspect of becoming a safe driver in the UK involves learning the multitude of traffic signs and their meanings. Typically, individuals are tested on their knowledge of these signs during their theory test.

However, it’s all too easy to forget what some signs signify.

Nevertheless, drivers should ensure they’re familiar with the meaning of road signs as ignoring a traffic sign or road marking could lead to serious legal consequences, fines, and even a driving ban. Police and traffic services can verify whether a driver has failed to adhere to a sign using cameras and ANPR.

Traffic signs and road markings serve to provide warnings or information about the road conditions, playing a crucial role in ensuring safety. Failure to comply with these signs, either deliberately or unknowingly, can result in severe penalties.

What happens if I’m caught not following a traffic sign or light?

If a camera captures you allegedly running a red light or not adhering to a traffic sign or road marking correctly, you will receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP). This notice is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle and requires the recipient to identify the offending driver within 28 days.

The notice will likely demand an admission of guilt and payment of a fixed penalty fine, or else face the possibility of court proceedings. If you dispute the offence, you can challenge the NIP with proof that either you didn’t commit the violation or that the light or sign was faulty.

Traffic lights and numerous other road fixtures are equipped with cameras and additional technology to ensure all drivers adhere to the signs correctly. As such, if you ignore a red light or fail to stop at a stop sign, you could be contacted by the police for committing an offence.

Committing this offence could automatically lead to a minimum of three points on your licence along with a £100 fine, or your case could be escalated to the magistrates’ court depending on the seriousness of the offence.

If you’re taken to court and found guilty of not obeying traffic signals appropriately, you could be slapped with a fine of up to £1,000 and three or more points on your licence. Moreover, if you neglect to sign or respond to an NIP or provide inaccurate details, you could face additional prosecution, a fine of up to £1,000 and six penalty points on your licence.

If a motorist has held their licence for under two years, accruing six points will result in automatic revocation of the licence, necessitating a retest. If a driver already has points on their licence and the new additions tally up to 12 or more, they could face an outright driving ban.