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What is the difference between careless driving and reckless driving?
I was pulled over last week for not signaling before I changed lanes on the highway. I was given a ticket for “careless driving” but not reckless driving. Now I’m confused… is there a difference between careless driving and reckless driving?
Macy Fouse · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’re right—these terms are vague at best. To make it more confusing, the rules for each of these are different in nearly every state. To make it simple, though, the difference between careless driving and reckless driving comes down to the motive behind the behavior. Let’s look at some distinctions.
Careless driving is considered any negligent or unsafe driving behavior that could cause damage to person or property. This can include driving over the speed limit or accidentially running a red light. In general, the punishment for careless driving is not as severe and is usually just a traffic citation.
Reckless driving, on the other hand, is a more serious crime, which usually comes with a misdemeanor charge among other penalties. Someone driving “recklessly” is considered to have an intent to harm person or property. In other words, the reckless driver is completely aware that their driving could result in harm but continues to do it anyway.
Reckless driving also affects your
car insurance
rates more drastically—sometimes driving up your costs by 150%. No matter what your record looks like, Jerry
is sure to find you the best deals on coverage. Jerry compares rates from more than 50 top insurance companies to make sure you’re getting the lowest price for the policy you need. Browse your quotes, then pick the coverage level that suits you best. Jerry will take over from there, helping with all the paperwork needed to switch your policy.
Best of all? Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance!
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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