Driver checked her mirror at 60mph – to put on make-up

A MOTORIST has been fined after admitting putting on her make-up as she drove at 60mph along a busy stretch of dual carriageway.

Sally Staggs, from Tollesbury, Essex, was spotted by traffic police applying eyeliner in the mirror as she travelled along the A12.

The 53-year-old appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court where she admitted a single charge of driving without care and attention on Aug 27 last year.

Police spotted Staggs applying makeup as she drove her Peugeot 406 estate car along the road near Kelvedon. Jemma Carr, prosecuting, said: “Police officers were travelling northbound when their attention was drawn to a red Peugeot which was travelling at 60mph.

“The officer could see that the driver was putting make-up on to her face. There were vehicles around her at the time – an HGV was in front of her and there was a Ford Transit to her rear.”

The court heard how Staggs had pulled her driver’s visor down to look in the mirror and apply her make-up.

She said she had been running late for an appointment. She told the court: “I did not realise at the time just how serious it was. I am sorry. I have acted completely stupidly and I will never do it again. I was putting on my eyeliner whilst I was driving and it made me negligent.”

But she disputed police claims that she had pulled her visor down to look in a mirror during the incident.

Staggs was fined £200 and ordered to pay £90 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £20. She was also given four penalty points on her driving licence.