A motorist reversed up a slip road to avoid a queue on one of Fife’s busiest roads because he was in a hurry to go shopping for his new baby.
A passenger in another car filmed Dawid Chowaniak making the manoeuvre on the A92 near Lochgelly.
Despite admitting driving carelessly, the 35-year-old, of Scott Place, Lochore, was allowed to keep his licence because of his shift work.
Careless manoeuvre filmed
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard that on April 13 last year at 4.20pm, there was slow-moving traffic on the A92.
Fiscal depute Lee-Anne Barclay told the court a passenger in another car, being driven by his wife, “were in static and stuck in traffic.”
She said: “He observed a silver Hyundai hatchback, travelling down the on slip road to the A92.
“The accused was driving and the vehicle stopped and put its hazards on.
“It then began to reverse up the slip road.
“It was apparent he didn’t want to wait in the queue of slow-moving traffic.”
The witness used his mobile phone to take a video and still image and then contacted police.
Errand running
Solicitor Heather Morrison, defending, said Chowaniak has been sent out on an errand by his wife.
“Mr Chowaniak‘s child had been born the week previous on April 6.
“His wife had sent him out to get items for her. It was a rather difficult time.
“He was travelling to Cowdenbeath.
“He is apologetic for his actions.
“He felt under time pressure but appreciates that this is no excuse.
“He did manoeuvre very slowly and as soon as he saw a car coming down the slip road, he stopped and put his hazards on.”
She added her client needs his licence to get to shifts as a machine operator for Bosch in Glenrothes and that due to his limited English, there are few job opportunities available to him.
Licence loss warning
Chowaniak was initially charged with dangerous driving but his plea to the lesser offence was accepted by the Crown.
Sheriff Timothy Niven-Smith said that had he been convicted of the more serious offence he would have lost his licence.
However, he noted it was important for Chowaniak to keep his licence if he was to keep his job.
He fined the accused £400 and handed imposed three penalty points on his licence
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
