Causing death while driving unlicensed, uninsured or disqualified

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Produced in partnership with Alex McHugh of Pump Court Chambers
Practice notes

Causing death while driving unlicensed, uninsured or disqualified

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Produced in partnership with Alex McHugh of Pump Court Chambers

Practice notes
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Causing death by driving while disqualified

Section 3ZC of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA 1988) creates the offence of causing death by driving while disqualified.

This offence is indictable only and carries the most severe potential sentence (see below: Sentencing for causing death while driving offences committed while unlicensed, uninsured or disqualified).

The offence of causing death by driving while disqualified is committed when:

  1. •

    a person causes the death of another by driving a motor vehicle on a road, or

  2. •

    at the time of causing the death, the driver was driving while disqualified contrary to RTA 1988, s 103(1)(b)

RTA 1988 defines a 'motor vehicle' as a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on a road.

The term 'road' is defined in RTA 1988 as including any highway and any other road to which the public has access, including bridges over which a road passes.

Causing serious injury by driving while disqualified

Where there has not been a death but rather a serious injury,

Alex McHugh
Alex McHugh

Barrister, Pump Court Chambers

Alex McHugh joined Pump Court Chambers following successful completion of his pupillage. His key areas of practice are criminal defence, family, and landlord & tenant disputes. 

Prior to joining Chambers, Alex worked as a paralegal for a number of years at a Legal 500 firm in London. Two of those years were spent in crime under the stewardship of extremely experienced senior partners. Alex helped manage cases from beginning to end and represented all manner of clients in respect of a full range of alleged offences. 

As counsel, Alex defends his clients throughout every stage of proceedings. Alex accepts private and, where applicable, publicly funded briefs on road traffic offences, and has experience in representing clients in relation to speeding, drinking driving, “totting up”, and causing injury by dangerous driving offences.  

Alex predominantly works across the Western Circuit, London, and the South East. 
 

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Association of Corporate Treasurers.

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