Loch Awe man avoids ban after nearly causing crash

A driver has been fined £600 for careless driving after almost causing a crash on the A85 between Oban and Dunbeg.

Andreas Wolff of 25 St Conan’s Road, Loch Awe, pleaded guilty to causing another vehicle to take evasive action when he attempted an overtaking manoeuvre near Pennyfuir.

The 45-year-old was sentenced at Oban Sheriff Court on Monday October 21, when he received eight points on his licence on top of the fine.

Procurator fiscal Kevin Docherty told the court that at about 4pm on June 2, 2018, a witness was travelling along the A85 between Oban and Dunbeg, with a dashcam fitted to his vehicle: ‘He was aware Mr Wolff appeared to be travelling close to the vehicle in front of him with a view to potentially overtaking that vehicle.’

After turning one of the bends, and where the road markings changed from unbroken to broken white lines on his side, Wolff was attempting the overtaking manoeuvre.

As he pulled out onto the opposing carriageway, another vehicle is seen travelling towards him in which, ‘fortunately for all parties’, the 22-year-old driver was alert to the danger and avoided a collision by swerving onto the roadside verge. ‘His vehicle collided with warning posts, damaging those and the vehicle before he brought his vehicle to a halt,’ the procurator fiscal added.

The police were phoned and made their way to the scene, where the accused confirmed he was the driver.

In his defence, solicitor Kevin McGinness said: ‘At its heart, it is his position that it was down to a misjudgement. He made what he believed to be a diligent assessment and he believed the road was clear – clearly he erred reaching that conclusion.

‘He was concerned about the circumstances and faced up to his responsibilities immediately. He is employed as a BBC journalist and travels the length and breadth of the country in the course of his employment. It is his position he would not be able to continue his employment if he was to lose his licence.

‘He was immediately profusely apologetic to the victim. It is a warning to him about his future driving conduct.’

Sheriff Patrick Hughes said in all the circumstances he was satisfied it could be dealt with without disqualification and endorsed his licence with eight penalty points and fined Wolff £600, down from £750, given his guilty plea.