Ken Williams has been chief constable for eight years
Ken Williams, 57, Chief Constable of Norfolk, is due to appear before magistrates in Thetford, Norfolk, at a date to be fixed following a road accident in September.
As a result, Mr Williams has resigned as chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers' road policy unit.
Norfolk Police said on Friday that Acting Deputy Chief Constable John Bligh had made the decision to issue a summons against Mr Williams.
Injured in collision
The allegation relates to an accident which happened on the A11 near Snetterton on 30 September.
Mr Williams, who was driving a Honda Legend, is believed to have been in involved in a collision with a Renault Laguna travelling in the opposite direction.
Mr Williams, a father-of-two, was treated in hospital for a broken foot following the accident.
The other driver, believed to be a 26-year-old man from Thetford, was unhurt.
Both cars were badly damaged.
Police said a full report on the accident had been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.
"Following correspondence from the chief crown prosecutor for the Cambridge area a decision has been taken by the then Deputy Chief Constable John Bligh to lay information for a summons to be issued against Mr Williams for driving without due care and attention," a police spokesman said in a statement.
Wide experience
"In due course the case will be brought before Thetford Magistrates' Court for hearing."
Mr Williams became chief constable of Norfolk in 1993.
He joined Salford City Police Force in 1963 and rose through the ranks within the Greater Manchester County conurbation, being appointed assistant chief constable in 1987.
He became deputy chief constable of Durham Constabulary in August 1990 before being appointed chief constable of Norfolk.
He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1992.
Norfolk Police said Mr Williams would not be making any comment about the charge.