Man banned from driving after confusion causes two collisions

Going the wrong way, driver tried to go through gap in barrier

A driver’s confusion when rejoining the A90 at Stracathro and a subsequent collision involving two other vehicles has cost him his driving licence.

Albert Bullen, 60, of Rose Street, Aberdeen, pled guilty at Forfar Sheriff Court yesterday to driving his car without due care and attention on the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen dual carriageway on October 20 2017.

He drove into the path of an oncoming car causing a collision that pushed his vehicle onto the southbound carriageway and into the path of an oncoming car.

He also pled guilty to injuring his passenger Sandra Lindsay, David Philip and his passenger Maria Johnston, and Robert Ferrier, the driver of the southbound vehicle and his passenger Wendy Gibson.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court: “Mr Philip carried out an emergency stop but collided with the

“This has stayed with him. He was travelling south and was intending to go to Edinburgh. DEPUTE FISCAL BILL KERMODE

accused’s vehicle. The accused’s vehicle was shunted into the southbound carriageway and into the path of the car being driven by Mr Ferrier.

“Mr Ferrier was travelling at 70 miles per hour and was unable to avoid the accused’s vehicle, causing extensive damage to both vehicles.”

Bullen’s agent told the court his client had been driving for 40 years and had never been involved in such an incident.

“This has stayed with him. He was travelling south and was intending to go to Edinburgh. He had never stopped at Stracathro before.

“He was exiting the service station, there is a small roundabout and a flyover which takes you south.

“He became confused at the roundabout and, before he knew it, was going north.

“He sees a gap and starts to move across.

“It was twilight, he accepts he failed to properly check his mirrors. He had only gone a very short distance when he saw a gap in the barrier.

“He very much regrets this.” Sheriff Derek Reekie endorsed his licence with six penalty points which, due to the totting up procedure, disqualified him for six months.

He also fined Bullen £450. jathomson@thecourier.co.uk