When traveling on a road, there is always a risk, whether minor or major, of suffering some type of mishap or accident. Something that can happen due to external agents, such as heavy rain or low visibility conditions due to fog. But it is also possible that the responsibility falls on the rest of the road users. Or in oneself. In these cases, reckless or negligent driving is often behind it. Although it should be noted that they are not the same.
In both cases, it is a fault caused by the driver of a vehicle. However, that's as far as the similarities end, since the General Traffic Regulations distinguish reckless driving behavior from negligent driving on a series of specific bases. This is important because the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) applies very different sanctions depending on which of them it is.
Reckless driving and negligent driving have in common the fact that they involve infractions that break traffic rules and regulations. However, the DGT distinguishes the degree of risk towards oneself and the rest of the road users that each one implies. And this has a direct impact on the type of sanction that will be imposed.
In the case of negligent driving, this occurs when the driver is handling the vehicle carelessly and recklessly, without devoting all the attention and caution that he should to such activity. And this can endanger other people and yourself. For example, practices such as skidding with the vehicle, driving in a jerky manner or any other similar behavior that is risky.
On the other hand, reckless driving takes place at the moment when one is traveling in such a way that a danger is already generated for all road users and for oneself. This is not driving that ignores safety regulations, but rather driving that already causes a high risk of injury. Some relevant cases are driving at an excessively high speed, doing so in the wrong direction or being under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances.
Negligent driving is not something minor, it is considered a serious offense and carries an administrative penalty of 200 euros. But the risk of reckless driving is greater, making it a very serious offense that requires severe punishment. In this case, an administrative penalty of 500 euros and the withdrawal of 6 points from the driving license.
