UPDATE: |The ‘fatal 4’ driving offences with the highest death risk on the road News

Police have highlighted four particular factors that can increase the odds of a fatality in a road collision

While there are a wide array of driving offences that could result in severe accidents, four specific types have been grouped together as the ‘fatal 4’.

The term refers to four factors that could significantly increase the chances of a fatality happening during a road collision.

Furthermore, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has highlighted that police prioritise targeting these offences in its road policing strategy.

Recent data highlighted that at least one of the fatal 4 factors were recorded in 65% of fatal road collisions. Drivers who were assigned one of the fatal 4 factors were also more likely to be from younger age groups.

Read below for a full breakdown on each of the fatal 4 factors that could increase the likelihood of a fatality taken place in a collision.

Speeding

UK roads have a a wide variety of speed limits that can change frequently in some areas. Because of this it can be easy to be going over the speed limit.

If you’re caught speeding you could receive a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 fine as well as three points. However, punishments can end up being much more severe with much higher fines and points or even a driving disqualification – this usually takes place when the speed limit is passed excessively.

Driving under the effect of a substance

It’s illegal to drive a vehicle if you’re unfit to do so due to the effect of drugs, both legal and illegal or if you have a certain amount of illegal drugs in your system even if it doesn’t affect your driving.

Generally, the police can choose to carry out a field impairment assessment if they believe you’re on drugs alongside a roadside drug test kit if required.

If you are found to have taken drugs you could be charged with a crime. Generally the punishment for this can include a minimum one year driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to six months in prison, and even a criminal record.

Your driving licence will also show you’ve been convicted for drug driving which remains on there for 11 years.

Not wearing a seatbelt

Drivers and passengers must wear a seatbelt if one is fitted in the seat while one one person is allowed in each seat that is fitted with a seat belt.

This also includes children who must also be in the correct car seat for their height or weight until they reach 135cm tall or on their 12th birthday – whichever is first.

If anyone in your vehicle is caught not wearing a seatbelt, you can be fined up to £500. Government guidance states you’re only allowed to not wear a seatbelt if one of the following apply:

• a driver who is reversing, or supervising a learner driver who is reversing
• driving a goods vehicle on deliveries that is travelling no more than 50 metres between stops
• a licensed taxi driver or a driver of a private hire vehicle who is carrying passengers
• a passenger in a trade vehicle and you’re investigating a fault
• in a vehicle being used for police, fire and rescue services
• a licensed taxi driver who is looking for customers either by being hailed in the street or by waiting at a taxi rank (known as ‘plying for hire’)

Mobile device use

It is illegal to use or hold a phone, sat nav, or any other such device that can send or receive data while driving. This means you must not hold a phone to make texts or take calls while behind the wheel.

If you’re caught using a mobile device, you could receive six penalty points as well as a £200 fine. You may also be taken to court where you could receive a driving ban and receive a maximum fine of £1,000 or £2,500 if you were driving a lorry or bus.