Speeding ‘L’ driver crashed then drove on three wheels

A LEARNER driver who was swerving about the road before crashing into a barrier has avoided a jail term.

Christopher Robertson continued on his way across the Queensferry Crossing to Rosyth on three wheels, the other one having been smashed in the accident.

Robertson’s excuse for being behind the wheel in the first place was he had to get to his work in Fife.

Robertson, 31, of Sedgebank, Livingston, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted previously that on September 19 last year, on the M9 Newbridge, the Queensferry Crossing and Castle Road, Rosyth, he drove as a provisional licence-holder without displaying ‘L’ plates. He also drove without insurance.

He further admitted he drove dangerously in inclement weather at excessive speeds, causing his vehicle to swerve between lanes of traffic and other drivers to take evasive action to avoid collisions.

He then struck a crash barrier, damaging the vehicle, and continued to drive despite having no functional front offside wheel or tyre.

The court was told that at 1.55pm on a Sunday afternoon, a passenger in another vehicle reported the erratic driving of Robertson heading from the M9 towards the Queensferry Crossing.

He was driving at high speed in heavy traffic and in wet road conditions.

He cut across from lane four to lane one to avoid missing a junction, forcing other drivers to brake sharply.

He lost control as he took a long bend and collided heavily with a crash barrier, causing considerable damage, but he continued on his way.

Defence solicitor Darryl

Lovie said: “This was a very poor piece of driving by someone who shouldn’t have been driving in the first place.

“He knows he’s put himself in a position where his liberty is in jeopardy.”

Sheriff Paul Reid told Robertson he had come “extremely close” to a jail sentence.

Instead, he banned him from driving for two years and until he passes the extended test.

He also imposed a community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work and a six-month restriction of liberty order.