Hard emergency stop to avoid crash

Motorists had to take emergency action to avoid a crash when another driver did a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on the A83 near to Clachan Filling Station.

Procurator fiscal depute James Dunbar told the April sitting of Campbeltown Sheriff Court that a Land Rover travelling north ‘had to complete a hard emergency stop’, coming to a complete halt, when a car driven by 82-year-old Andrew Leven, heading south, overtook a car and a caravan being towed by another Land Rover which had to brake hard.

Leven, of 32 Henry Bell Street, Helensburgh, admitted driving dangerously on Monday August 9 last year.

Others involved in the incident reported the matter to the police and Leven was stopped at Glenbarr.

He told the officers: ‘I thought it was perfectly safe and nobody was in danger at all.’

Leven was fined £400, with a £20 victim surcharge, and was disqualified from driving for 12 months, or until such time he passed an extended test.

Leven, who was not legally represented, told the court that this was his first appearance in court. ‘I apologise to the other drivers and I am grateful that no one was hurt,’ he said.