A callous taxi driver ignored the pleas of terrified passengers to slow down as he sped along a notorious Perthshire road at up to 100mph.
Despite freezing temperatures Neil Colquhoun refused to reduce his frantic pace during the white-knuckle ride from Perth to Crieff.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 52-year-old, of Rannoch Road, Perth, was taking four passengers home for an “agreed rate” when an argument broke out over the alarming nature of his driving.
Colquhoun who has now been stripped of his taxi operator’s licence drove through villages at speeds of up to 70mph and hit “95 or 100” while going along the infamous Burnbrae straight, which claimed the lives of five people in a crash three years ago.
He was found guilty of driving carelessly and at excessive speed on the A85 Perth to Crieff Road on February 21, disregarding the safety of his passengers and other road users.
Among the four passengers in Colquhoun’s taxi that night was Louise Guthrie, who told the court how she and her sister Victoria pleaded with him to reduce his speed.
“The driving was very erratic and extremely fast,” she said. “We were all very scared. I looked at the speedometer at Burnbrae and it said 95mph. I was quite shaken up when I got out and was just glad it was over. It was quite an ordeal.”
Victoria also urged Colquhoun to slow down. “We were grabbing each other’s hands in the back of the car,” she told the court. “He was driving well over the speed limit.”
Fellow passenger Craig Wilson said, “It was fast and reckless. He was speeding through towns. Several times we asked if he would slow down. We were scared.”
Colquhoun who was banned from driving for 18 months in 2001 following a dangerous driving conviction defended his actions, telling his passengers he knew the road well.
Solicitor David Holmes said, “He worked as a taxi driver until this matter and his licence was then suspended due to the nature of this charge. He has also worked as a bus driver and would hope to return to that line of work in the future.”
Sheriff Derek Livingston fined Colquhoun £300 and gave him nine penalty points.
“We have heard from witnesses who all talked of the driver going at grossly excessive speed,” he said. “We heard he was driving at 73mph past 30mph signs, going at 95mph at Burnbrae and at 70mph on the bends going into Crieff.
“We also heard evidence that the temperature was below freezing. I regard this as being at the high level of careless driving. I am tempted to disqualify you, but it might be better to keep you on the road knowing you have nine points on your licence.
“This is a bad case of careless driving and for the next three years you will really have to watch your step while driving.”