Teenage driver hits workman

A TEENAGER from Voe who drove through a set of red lights and struck a road worker with his car last summer has escaped disqualification.

Alexander Johnson, of Kelda, was fined £1,500 and given nine penalty points after admitting a charge of careless driving at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

The court heard how the 19-year-old was overtaking temporary road works on the B9076 at Scatsta on 8 July.

The young man then failed to wait at red lights and continued driving when a workman indicated for him to stop before striking him with his car.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Johnson happened upon a set of traffic lights that were both turned red to allow a workman to collect cones.

However, the man from Voe “thought he was taking too long” and “arrogantly” decided to drive through the lights before striking a “glancing blow” on the man, who did not receive any injuries.

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Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had no intention of hitting the worker and didn’t actually realise he had struck him.

The solicitor continued saying that Johnson would be likely to lose his job if he was disqualified from driving.

Sheriff Philip Mann said that there could have been “catastrophic consequences” from Johnson’s driving.

He added that he felt persuaded that having nine points and being on the “precipice” of the automatic disqualification threshold of 12 points would ensure that the teenager drives more safely in the future.