A forklift driver who drove head-on into another car on his commute to work has been banned from the road.
Dawid Grycz was on his way to a Coupar Angus chicken factory last April when he pulled into the path of a family in a Mercedes on a bend on the A923 when thick fog had reduced visibility to just 50 yards.
No one was seriously hurt in the crash and Forfar Sheriff Court heard the accident had been a “wake-up call” for the 30-year-old, who admitted driving dangerously on the A923, near Lundie Castle Road, on April 26.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the crash happened at about 7.30am, when the driver of the Mercedes which Grycz hit was travelling eastwards with his wife and daughter.
“Visibility was very poor due to dense fog and he was travelling at approximately 45mph,” said the fiscal.
Another witness in a van was travelling westwards and he became aware of the lights of Grycz’s car approaching at speed from behind.
The fiscal continued: “As he approached a bend, he became aware of the car pulling out and overtaking. The van driver thought it was an idiotic overtaking manoeuvre because you could not see 50 metres ahead.”
The witness saw the car driver attempt to take evasive action at the last minute but the vehicles hit each other head-on.
Grycz’s solicitor said his client realised he would lose his licence, which would lead to some difficulties in getting to and from work.
“He appreciates that the conditions were bad. He had been behind the van for a substantial period of time and the decision to pull out was stupid.
“It was a traumatic experience for him but he accepts it was a very traumatic experience for all those involved. He is disappointed in the way he drove that day and tells me it has given him a serious wake-up call.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray told Grycz, of Scott Street, Dundee: “You are extremely fortunate no one was more seriously injured, or worse, in the collision.”
He fined Grycz £500 and disqualified him for 12 months.