By Jim Hislop and Rob McLaren

TAYSIDE POLICE said last night the fining and banning at Dundee Sheriff Court of a motorist who took part in a three-car road race acted as a warning to other “irresponsible” drivers.

Greig Ronald Traynor (20), Wellington Street, Dundee, was given a £350 fine and banned from driving for 12 months by Sheriff Tom Hughes yesterday after he admitted that on June 25 last year on Riverside Drive he drove dangerously at excessive speed and too close to the vehicle in front.

Depute fiscal Issa Mukhtar said a police car had been parked off the roundabout at the entrance to Tesco’s distribution area at about 9.30 pm when officers saw the accused in a Fiat Brava driving round the roundabout, closely followed by another car, and the speed was clocked at 51.56 mph.

The two cars then drew level until they reached the roundabout at the public entrance to Tesco, where they were joined by a third car and they all headed for the railway bridge at speed.

By this time the accused had dropped back to third place.

The police, who were following, measured the speed of the car in front as 70.12 mph.

The race ended when they were stopped by police at the Dundee Airport entrance.

An agent for Traynor said he now realised how stupid he had been and was glad he had driven only a fairly short distance in that manner before the police caught up with him.

Sheriff Hughes also ordered Traynor to resit and pass the extended driving test before reapplying for his licence.

A police spokesman last night pledged to continue to use “all powers available” to deal with “irresponsible” motorists.

He said, “We are satisfied with the outcome of the case as it sends out a salutary warning that anyone caught threatening the public's safety on our roads will be charged and put before the courts, with the likelihood that they will be heavily fined and banned from driving.

“The alternatives if they are allowed to continue with this type of irresponsible behaviour are appalling, but all too possible to imagine.

“Tayside Police believes that everyone has a duty to ensure the safety of all road users and we will continue to use all powers available to us under Road Traffic Legislation to remove irresponsible behaviour and irresponsible motorists from our roads.”

He called on the public to report any incidents causing concern.