Man banned after admitting dangerous driving charge

AN AIRPORT worker who drove dangerously by attempting to overtake another vehicle in dense fog on Shetland’s main A970 road has been disqualified from driving for a year and fined £800.

Daniel Edwards, formerly of Lerwick, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at the town’s sheriff court on Thursday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 34-year-old was driving north in the afternoon of 30 March when a police officer in the car ahead of him became alarmed by Edwards’ driving.

The court heard how Edwards repeatedly encroached into the opposing carriageway, repeatedly drove dangerously close to the rear of the vehicle in front of him and then attempted an overtaking manoeuvre which required the driver in front to take evasive action, all while he had no headlights on.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client, who now lives in Dee Street, Connah’s Quay, had been working long shifts at the airport and was going through a stressful period in his life.

Allan said Edwards accepted that he should not have driven in the way he did and added that he had been under the impression that his headlights would have come on automatically in conditions of restricted visibility.

The defence agent told the court that Edwards’ new employer had submitted a reference saying they were aware of the court case and confirmed that they would keep him as an employee despite the inevitable disqualification that would follow.

Edwards will also have to pass the extended driving test before being allowed back on the roads.