Tayside’s head of road policing has warned young drivers against the “peer pressure” perils of excessive speed after an Angus man was jailed following a horrific road smash.
Eoin Duncan’s high-performance Honda Civic Type R was packed with young friends during an hour-long blast along the A92 between Carnoustie and Ethiebeaton and on back roads before disaster struck when he lost control on a bend and careered into a tree.
One 15-year-old in the rear of the vehicle capable of 0 to 60 mph in under 6.5 seconds was thrown through the rear window and spent a week in intensive care at Ninewells Hospital.
He was not wearing a seatbelt.
Inspector Ray Cuthill of Tayside Road Policing Unit said every driver must resist “peer pressure” and has the responsibility for checking every passenger has a seatbelt.
He acknowledged the “unfortunate circumstances” of the collision on the B9128 Forfar to Carnoustie road, which also left another passenger injured.
He gave the message to inexperienced drivers tempted to approach such high speeds: “This could happen to you.”
Inspector Cuthill said: “It’s up to you not to succumb to peer pressure, not to show off, and to be responsible for your actions.
“It’s up to the drivers to keep themselves, their friends, and other road users safe.
“It would appear that peer pressure seems to have been an influence in the circumstances here.
“Young drivers are much more likely to be involved in a collision than older drivers.
“Seventeen to 25-year-olds account for 10% of licence holders but over 20% of collisions.
“We’ll continue to carry out enforcement to dissuade young drivers from speeding.”
Duncan, 22, had been driving for less than two years before leaving the road in March 2014.
The court heard a passenger in the car said speeds of up to 145mph were reached during the charge around the A92, B961 and B962.
A jury found Duncan guilty of dangerous driving and he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and banned from the road for five years.
He was told by Sheriff Gregor Murray that he was saved from a longer sentence due to his good character, youth and lack of previous convictions.ClarificationAn earlier version of this report stated Eoin Duncan boasted his car reached 145mph.
We have been asked to point out that this statement was in fact made by someone else in the car.
We apologise for any offence caused.