Thurso driver spared ban after careless collision
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An unemployed Thurso driver was confronted by a stationary car when he entered a dip in the road and braked.
However, Donald McPhee (47) wasn't able to avoid colliding with an oncoming vehicle, Sheriff Mark Lindsay heard at Wick on Thursday.
McPhee admitted a charge reduced from dangerous to careless driving and was fined £250. He also incurred three penalty points.
The court was told that the accident occurred at the Sibmister junction on the A836 in November 2021.
David Barclay said that McPhee, of Marr Terrace, Thurso, was "somewhat surprised" to see a vehicle stationary in front of him waiting to turn right.
Mr Barclay made the point that it had been raining heavily a short time before and that the road was wet.
McPhee told police officers that he thought the car in front was still moving but it was stopped to prepare for a right-hand turn and added: "When I braked, my car skidded over the road."
Mr Barclay said there was no suggestion of speed on the accused's part and added: "He simply failed to properly observe what was ahead of him."
George Mathers described it as "a brief error of judgment" by the accused and rated as being at the lower end of the scale for careless driving.
He added: "The collision came as a complete shock to both drivers."
Mr Mathers appealed to Sheriff Lindsay not to impose six penalty points on the accused which would trigger an automatic six-month disqualification. McPhee already had six points on his licence and might find it difficult to get a job if he was banned.
Sheriff Lindsay accepted that the degree of carelessness was at the lower end of the scale.
The sheriff said that the vehicle in front of McPhee would not have been visible to him until he came over the brow of the road into the dip and added: "He was taken by surprise."
