Dangerous driving leads to 14-month ban

A MOMENT of “monumental misjudgement” has led to a man from Scalloway losing his driving licence for 14 months and being fined £540.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday, 34-year-old Oran Jamieson pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving when he overtook a van into oncoming traffic on the A970 between Scalloway and the Brig o’Fitch on 19 November last year.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court that the driver of the van was hence alerted to Jamieson’s attempts to overtake and soon realised that he would not make it.

Jamieson, of East Voe, had tried twice before to overtake the van but had to abort the manoeuvres.

The van driver had to break hard to allow him to return to the correct carriageway after his third attempt, and subsequently came to a halt, the fiscal said.

The court heard that Jamieson had quickly realised his mistake, stopped his own vehicle, and returned to the driver of the van to apologise for his driving.

He himself called the police distraught at the thought that he could have killed the driver of the van and her passengers had she not taken averting action.

The fiscal said Jamieson clearly accepted the foolhardiness of his actions and was remorseful.

Defence solicitor Gregor Kelly said his client realises that he should never have pulled out to overtake and described the manoeuvre as a “monumental misjudgement”.

He said Jamieson was the principal carer of his grandmother and was well aware that his actions would now have an impact on those he is looking after.

It also emerged that as he had two previous convictions for careless driving, Jamieson will have to pass the extended test of competence to drive before being allowed back on the road.