The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Distracted’ OAP risked his life at level crossing
COURT: Barrier was lowering as 75-year-old drove across
A pensioner risked his life as he ignored flashing lights to drive across a level crossing at Carnoustie as the barrier was lowering.
Forfar Sheriff Court was told Robert Clarke was “distracted as he was late” when he carried out the risky manoeuvre.
The 75-year-old’s solicitor said his client had used the crossing 20,000 to 30,000 times without incident.
He said: “He has been driving for 50 years and has lived in the town for 40 years.
“It was a one-off moment of madness by him.”
Clarke was initially charged with dangerous driving, crossing while a passenger train was approaching and narrowly avoiding a collision with the barrier.
He pled guilty to an amended charge of failing to comply with a stop signal.
He will be sentenced next month when CCTV footage has been reviewed.
A court heard a driver became distracted at a railway crossing in Angus and ignored warning lights in a “one-off moment of madness”.
Despite negotiating the Carnoustie level crossing “20,000 to 30,000 times” without incident, Robert Clarke, 75, of the town’s Bruce Drive, admitted failing to comply with “stop” signs at the crossing on March 9.
At an earlier court appearance he denied a charge of dangerous driving by ignoring a flashing red light at the railway, failing to comply to “stop” given by an intermittent red light, and continuing to cross the level crossing while a passenger train was approaching, narrowly avoiding a collision with the barrier.
This charge was deserted by the Crown.
Appearing again at Forfar Sheriff Court Clarke pled guilty to an amended charge of failing to comply with the
As in other cases at that crossing, CCTV generally gives a good idea of what happened. SHERIFF GREGOR MURRAY
indication “stop” given by an intermittent red light signal.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court the incident happened at approximately 10.30am on March 9.
The red lights began to flash and the white barrier began to lower but Clarke failed to stop.
She said: “The car he was driving veered on to the opposite carriageway and under the barrier before taking a right turn.”
She added the matter was reported to the British Transport Police, the accused was investigated and he fully cooperated.
Solicitor Billy Rennie told the court: “He was distracted as he was late.
“He has been driving for 50 years and has lived in the town for 40 years,” he added.
“He has an unblemished record, no road traffic offences and lives with his wife.
“He has been over that crossing 20,000 to 30,000 times and has never had a problem.
“It was a one-off moment of madness by him as he became distracted.”
Referring to similar incidents at the Carnoustie railway crossing, Sheriff Gregor Murray told Clarke he would defer his sentence until he had viewed CCTV footage.
He said: “As in other cases at that crossing, CCTV generally gives a good idea of what happened.”
Sentence was deferred until September 20.