Driving without reasonable consideration

If because of the way you are driving you are regarded as having inconvenienced others then you may be charged with driving without reasonable consideration.

The penalties for this offence are the same as they would be for driving without due care and attention.

In order for it to be shown that you have driven without reasonable consideration, however, it is necessary to show that someone else (either another driver or a pedestrian) has actually been inconvenienced by your driving. This is a more difficult test than in relation to careless driving where it would not be necessary to show that any other person was inconvenienced

For it to be appropriate for you to be charged with this offence it must be shown that your driving amounts to a clear act of incompetence, selfishness, impatience or aggressiveness and that this has caused inconvenience to other road users – for example by forcing them to move out of the way of your vehicle, brake or take other avoidance action.

Examples of what would be regarded as inconsiderate driving include:

• flashing your lights so that the driver in front will pull over;
• misuse of an inside lane, hard shoulder or parking areas so as to get ahead of a queue;
• remaining in an overtaking lane when no longer overtaking;
• driving too slowly or breaking unnecessarily;
• dazzlingoncoming drivers by inappropriate use of full beam; and
• splashing pedestrians by driving through puddles;

If you have been charged with driving without reasonable consideration then please contact keepmedriving either by completing the appropriate online information form which you will find in the Getting Help section, by requesting a free call-back using the free, no-obligation call-back form to the right or by phoning us during office hours on 084 4804 4804