Road Traffic is one of the most frequently encountered areas of law in every-day criminal practice. Approximately 32 million people hold a full car driving licence in England, and others hold HGV or taxi licences as well. The implications of breaching the rules and regulations, whether on a major or minor scale, affect many of us on a daily basis.
The law is wide-ranging, sometimes complex, and occasionally required in tragic circumstances. Lawyers of every level are involved in the many and varied cases which end up in court, ranging from 'totters' (someone who has collected more than 12 points) to those who cause death or serious injury by dangerous driving.
Disqualification, whether short or long in duration, can have a dramatic effect on any driver, particularly when their job is dependent upon being able to drive. Even an ostensibly minor traffic case can have serious consequences for the driver concerned.
A Practical Approach to Road Traffic Law draws together, in a simple and easy-to-use format, those aspects of road traffic work which most commonly arise in day-to-day court practice, whilst also providing information about slightly more rarefied areas like heavy goods vehicles and taxis which crop up in the Magistrates' courts surprisingly often.
It explains how a case makes its way through the courts and sets out in detail the various offences and how to deal with them at every stage including sentencing. It highlights the important matters to be borne in mind for each situation and helps to make the most pertinent representations in any case. It includes sections about the minimum requirements for legality and the circumstances in which licences may be revoked.
In addition to providing solicitors and barristers with a portable courtroom guide and accessible aide memoire, A Practical Approach to Road Traffic Law also assists the increasing numbers of people who choose to represent themselves - litigants in person. By setting out the law in a practical and easy-to-access manner the work assists both legal practitioners and also litigants in person who wish to set out their case in the Magistrates' Courts when facing prosecution for a more minor offence.
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A Practical Approach to Road Traffic Law is a clear and accessible guide to the law on all aspects of road traffic offences.
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
1. Survival guide
2. Definitions of a vehicle and a road 9
PART 2: PROCEDURE
3. 'How to be legal'
4. Licences
5. Basic procedure
6. Journey of cases through the courts
PART 3: OFFENCES
7. Speeding
8. Acquisitive offences
9. Regulatory offences
10. Drink/drug driving
11. Careless driving
12. Dangerous driving
13. Wanton or furious driving
14. Dangerous driving causing serious injury
15. Causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving
16. Defences
PART 4: EXPERTS
17. Expert Reports
PART 5: SENTENCING
18. Opening a case for sentence
19. Mitigation
20. Special reasons, mitigating circumstances and exceptional hardship
21. Penalty points
22. Mandatory disqualification
23. Summary tables of road traffic offences
PART 6: MISCELLANEOUS
24. An introduction to goods vehicles
25. Taxis
Susan Cavender specialises in a variety of areas of law including criminal, licensing, driving defence cases, regulatory/disciplinary and inquest hearings. She works primarily in crime covering a wide range of cases for both prosecution and defence. Noted for her clarity and good communication skills, Susan co-authored Practical Advocacy in the Crown Court, Bloomsbury Professional. Alistair Haggerty specialises in serious crime and regulatory law. He has experience of prosecuting and defending in a range of road traffic cases and has represented some high-profile clients