Motorcyclist in near-miss after driver runs red light

A MOTORCYCLIST has slammed an “irresponsible” motorist he says forced him to take evasive action after running a red light.

Jim Milligan, 60, from Broughty Ferry, was travelling back from a motorcycle rally in Durham when the near-miss occurred.

The former soldier was almost home when he set off from the traffic lights at the Riverside Drive junction with South Union Street, beside the RRS Discovery and railway station.

He said: “One of my friends was in front of me and he set off, then I went.

“Then this car came from around the corner, coming from the Tay Road Bridge. I saw him out the corner of my eye and I just had to take avoiding action.

“My friend had already set off on his bike before me, so it wasn’t like the light had just turned green. It had been that way for a while.

“I had to let the bike slide, rather than go into the side of the car. That would’ve caused more damage to the front of the bike and sent me flying. It could have been much worse.”

While he escaped with minor injuries, Jim faces paying hundreds of pounds to fix the damage caused to his high-end Honda Fireblade bike.

The bike was dealt largely cosmetic damage to a body panel and an engine cover — but Jim said the bike was his “pride and joy”.

As the driver sped off, an off-duty policeman came to Jim’s aid, giving him the car’s registration details and calling for assistance.

“It was so nice of him to stop and help me,” Jim added.

“I had been trying to come to terms with what had happened and for all intents and purposes it had been a high-speed incident.

“He made sure I was OK and gave me the registration number.

“I expect the driver will be getting a knock on the door soon. I hope he has insurance.”

Despite riding motorcycles for 25 years, the incident marks Jim’s first accident on a motorbike.

He said: “I’m an ex-Para, but I now work for NHS Fife as a senior resuscitation officer, and I’m a paramedic.

“I’ve seen up close the consequences of when you don’t take care on a motorbike, so with regards to that, I’ve always been a safe driver.”

Police Scotland had been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.