Careless driver caused biker’s broken leg
Fined £750 at court
A careless driver was spared jail after causing a motorcyclist to break his leg in a road accident.
Hamilton woman Helen Gibson was found guilty of careless driving on Dalblair Road in Ayr, near to Burns Statue Square, on July 23 last year.
The 41-year-old pulled out in front of a van, causing the motorcyclist travelling behind to collide with the vehicle and injure himself.
Procurator Fiscal Jason Bell told Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday, March 12, that a van had been travelling on the lane turning right, with Gibson said to be driving on the road to turn left.
She turned into the other lane very quickly, forcing the van to emergency stop.
The court heard motorcyclist Allan Stirrat was travelling behind the van and collided with it, unable to stop.
He was taken to hospital and treated for a broken leg.
The court also heard that the incident last year was captured on CCTV and was witnessed by passers-by.
Solicitor Nigel Scullion said: “She was looking to go to the shops and was looking for a parking space. “She did apologise profusely. “It’s at the lower end of carelessness.”
Sheriff Ross Macfarlane replied: “No it’s not – someone broke their leg.
“Without her being careless, a man wouldn’t have broken his leg.”
British Gas worker Gibson, of Spey Gardens in Hamilton, pled guilty to failing to keep a proper look out, travelling in front of an oncoming vehicle when it was not safe to do so and causing said vehicle to brake quickly to avoid collision, causing Allan Stirrat to fall to his injury.
She was fined £750 as well as six penalty points imposed on her licence.