Careless driving costs advanced driver

Overtaking and forcing a lorry into the verge in order to avoid an accident cost a man six penalty points and a £300 fine at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Paul Maguire, 52, who has been an “advanced driver for years,” admitted the offence of careless driving on the A970 south of Voe, which happened in a time of “difficult family circumstances”.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said that Maguire had been stuck behind a slow moving truck with an abnormal load and overtook the vehicle at the top of a brae, but had not allowed sufficient time to get back in his lane with another lorry coming towards him.

As a result, the fiscal said, a “disaster” had only been averted by the lorry driver moving onto the verge to avoid collision, with a steep embankment at the other side of the verge.

Sheriff Philip Mann said that the offence, which happened on 19th October, had been a “fairly serious instance of careless driving” and a “pity” because of Maguire’s status as an advanced driver.