Causing bodily harm by wanton or furious driving is a statutory offence in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
This offence is created by section 35 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (drivers of carriages injuring persons by furious driving): "Whosoever, having the charge of any carriage or vehicle, shall by wanton or furious driving or racing, or other wilful misconduct, or by wilful neglect, do or cause to be done any bodily harm to any person whatsoever, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years ..."This section is printed as amended by section 1(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1948 and of the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1953.
In the Republic of Ireland, a person liable to be charged an offence under section 53 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 was not liable, by reference to the same occurrence, to be charged with an offence under this section.
[2] "Bodily harm" See bodily harm In England and Wales, this offence is now used to prosecute: It was used in 2009 to prosecute a death caused by a cyclist collision, which would have fallen outside other laws as it is the closest equivalent to dangerous driving for cyclists.
In England and Wales, this offence is punishable with imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years,[6] as it is in Northern Ireland.