Driving without a licence

It is against the law to drive without a valid licence. This law is in place for the safety of all road users in the first place. People who want to drive must first learn how to drive and pass both a theory test (with hazard perception) and a practical test to obtain a full driving licence.

You can be prosecuted for driving without a licence under these circumstances:

• Not having a valid licence but still driving
• Driving with just a provisional licence and not being accompanied by someone who is at least 21 years old and having held their licence for at least 3 years
• Driving a vehicle for which you do not have the right entitlement on your licence eg driving a large goods vehicle (LGV) with an ordinary car licence

A driving licence is important as it shows that you understand the Highway Codes and know how to drive on your own. Just think about it - if someone was driving and does not have any clue about road markings, traffic signs and speed limits, would you be fully confident being near that driver? No, you wouldn't as that unlicensed driver may not think anything of a road where he needs to give way and carry on going where you thought you had priority and are coming with full speed and the next thing you hear is a loud bang because you've just been involved in a terrible accident.

Things like this happen more than you think and even if someone claims to know how to operate a car, it doesn't mean that he can drive safely because there's more to driving than just knowing how to move a vehicle forward and backward and operating the controls of the car.

The penalty and fine if you get caught

You will incur a penalty of 3-6 points and will face a fine of up to £1000. You may also be banned from obtaining a licence for a set period of time. On top of this, you may be charged with driving without insurance as having no licence invalidates any insurance cover that you may have.

Unlicensed drivers are a threat to the society and it is an offence to become one. If you haven't applied for a driving licence yet, then please do it now as this will make you a better driver and will increase the safety on UK roads. The driving test is not hard at all especially if you learn what is required during the test and you do your fair share of understanding the theory and practical exam.

If you want to report someone driving with no licence, then contact CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. They take these things seriously and will do the necessary.