Man, 88, took turn into lane facing traffic

An 88-year-old has been banned from driving – after going the wrong way on the A90. John Milne pulled out of a junction on the A937 but instead of driving across the northbound carriageway on to the southbound one, he began to drive south in the northbound lane.

Milne continued for around 30m before turning off towards Marykirk.

Fiscal depute Carol Gammie told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “It was approximately 3.10pm on September 9 2020 when a witness and her son were travelling south on the A937 road at Laurencekirk and they were approaching the A90.

“As she was approaching the junction, the witness saw the accused’s car stationary at the junction.

“The accused turned right at the junction and travelled south on the northbound carriageway of the A90 for approximately 30m.

“They observed that there was an oncoming heavy goods vehicle.

“The accused’s vehicle turned left, crossed the A90 southbound carriageway and entered the junction with the Marykirk road.”

Ms Gammie said the witness was concerned and contacted police.

Milne, of Glebeway, Meigle, pled guilty to dangerous driving.

Defence agent Michael Tavendale said: “Mr Milne is an 88-year-old man who has been driving for some 70 years, having originally learned to drive in the Army in Korea.

“He was an HGV driver for over 50 years.”

The solicitor said Milne’s wife and daughter relied on him for transport but knew a ban would be inevitable.

He went on: “Immediately following the incident he was assessed by a driving instructor.

“He saw no particular difficulty with his driving and it’s still somewhat of a mystery to Mr Milne as to how he came to get himself into this situation.

“Obviously he could have gone straight across, but once he turned right rather than straight across, he realised his error but it was too late and he just carried on.”

Mr Tavendale described it as a “sad day” for his client, who he said had one conviction for speeding from “probably about 40 years ago”.

Sheriff Mark Thorley said the incident could have ended in “disaster”.

He fined Milne £420 and banned him from driving for a year.

WRONG TURN: John Milne, 88, and the route he took into oncoming traffic on the A90.