The driver of an articulated lorry smashed a van on to its roof on the A90 because he was distracted by a dashboard warning light.
Graeme Nelson kept his licence by one penalty point following the collision, in which three people were injured.
Nelson appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted driving carelessly during the incident near Tealing on September 22.
The court heard Nelson already had six penalty points on his licence three for looking at a mobile phone while driving.
The 30-year-old was distracted by a warning light on his dashboard and did not notice the van slowing down ahead.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the Transit had done so to turn off the trunk road at Upper Todhills Farm.
She said: “At 11.30am the complainers were driving in a Transit van while the accused was also driving northwards in his artic lorry.
“As the complainer braked to take a sharp left turn, the accused shunted him forcefully off the carriageway. The Transit van landed on its roof.
“The accused was already on the phone to emergency services, asking ‘Are you boys OK? Sorry I just took my eyes off the road for a second’. He had simply looked at his dashboard.”
Defending Nelson, solicitor Nicola Louchran said the father-of-two works full-time as a lorry driver.
“The other vehicle involved overtook Mr Nelson just before this incident,” she said. “The turn it takes is like a 90-degree turn there is no slip road.
“This warning light had come on. He had reported it to his employer two weeks prior but no action was taken.
“Mr Nelson did attempt to move into the right-hand lane but it was too late.”
Ms Louchran said the firm he worked for did an internal investigation and he lost his job but found work again within a month.
Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed five penalty points and a fine of £600.
He told Nelson: “It’s not so much the circumstances. What causes me concern is your record. There is a miscellany of offences that makes me think you are not the most careful of drivers.
“The slightest wrong move on your part and you know what will happen.”
Nelson, of Barrhill Road, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, admitted driving carelessly on the A90 at its junction with the service road to Upper Todhil Farm, driving his lorry into the back of a van, damaging both vehicles and causing injury to all three occupants.