A Tayside lorry driver who caused a Mearns road accident that “could have had catastrophic consequences” has avoided a road ban.
Stephen Arthur from Dundee was leaving a delivery in Glenbervie and making his way back to the city when he forced a female driver off the road on July 8 this year.
The 39-year-old appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted what his solicitor described as “a moment’s inattention” when leaving the central reservation heading south on the A90.
Arthur had left the Glenbervie junction and was waiting for some time at the reservation, where the court heard a colleague was directing him to move on to the dual carriageway.
Depute fiscal Kirsten Letford said the driver, who captured the incident on a dashcam, was unable to slow down in time as the lorry filled both lanes, and drove off the road to avoid a collision.
“She assumed the accused was waiting for a gap to appear at the central reservation,” she said.
“As she drew nearer, she saw the lorry moving and it was blocking both lanes one and two.
“She began to brake and the accused continued to accelerate but continued to block both lanes.
“She was forced to mount the nearside grass verge and undertake the accused.
“A number of vehicles behind her were also forced to brake sharply.”
The woman and the other drivers pulled into the next layby where they were joined by an “immediately apologetic” Arthur.
The court heard sentence had been deferred because of a previous conviction.
Defence agent Jim Laverty said his client was unable to see approaching traffic and had misunderstood his colleague’s directions.
“A moment’s inattention…could have had catastrophic consequences,” he said.
“Obviously the loss of his licence would have a catastrophic effect on his financial responsibilities.
“This was the first delivery he had taken to a firm in Drumlithie.
“He was accompanied by a colleague and he was going to Dundee.
“Mr Arthur was told it was clear, he mistook that to mean to pass directly into the nearside lane, but unfortunately it was not safe to do so.
“Mr Arthur now travels to Stonehaven and uses the flyover there to do a u-turn to come south.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray endorsed Arthur’s licence with six points and fined him £500.
He said: “He is on the wrong side to see clearly and he has relied on his colleague.”
“I was involved several years ago in a fatal accident as a sheriff in Peterhead, in a similar situation.
“I don’t have to tell you how serious it could have been.
“That is borne out by the dashcam footage.
“When it’s played, it’s truly frightening.”
Arthur, of Balbeggie Street, admitted a charge of careless driving and forcing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
