An Angus postman who caused a serious crash while pulling out from an unclassified road has clung onto his employment and driving licence.
Experienced postie Jamie Hart admitted his role in a serious collision on the A94 near Eassie while working on April 17 last year.
Hart, 44, who has spent more than half his life working for Royal Mail, has been assigned the rural route for the past decade.
However, Forfar Sheriff Court heard when the first offender pulled onto the road in his work van at just 5mph, he caused an oncoming hire car to spin 180 degrees.
The court was told Hart’s employment contract would have been ripped up if he reached nine points on his licence – and he already had three live points.
After the removal of allegations he injured the driver of the other vehicle involved and seriously injured its passenger, Hart, of Windmill Brae in Forfar, was fined and given five further penalty points.
Crash
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said: “The accused failed to give way and continued out into the path of the complainer’s vehicle.
“On seeing the vehicle pull into his path, the complainer attempted to take evasive action but collided with the nearside centre of the accused’s vehicle.”
Westbound driver John Funze’s car was spun 180 degrees and came to rest in the centre of the road.
Hart, who had been heading northbound, got out and rushed to the the car to check the occupants were okay.
He dialled emergency services himself.
Plea
Hart admitted that on the A94 Forfar to Meigle road, at the unclassified road from Hatton of Eassie to Craigton of Airlie, he drove without due care or attention while in the course of his employment.
Both vehicles were damaged as a result of the crash.
At the time, police confirmed a woman was taken from the scene to Ninewells by ambulance.
Initially, Hart was charged with causing “serious” injury to passenger Rosalyn Maria Funze and injury to John Funze.
Legislation which has been in effect since June 2022 means anyone convicted of causing serious injury by driving carelessly must be banned for at least a year.
However, Hart’s reduced plea to careless driving – without causing any injury – was accepted so disqualification was discretionary.
Examined by Royal Mail
Solicitor Michael Boyd said: “Mr Hart (has) been employed with Royal Mail for 27 years.
“He’s been assigned to this particular route for the past 10 years.
“Obviously, it’s a rural route.
“Mr Hart has travelled that route on a daily basis.
“He’s obviously familiar with this particular route and established a rapport with the customers.
“The road is on a slope. Vehicles tend to come down that area quite fast.
“What Mr Hart explains to me is he was in the process of crossing the road, he looks left, then right.
“He hasn’t appreciated that there’s a vehicle coming from the left.
“His vehicle was examined by examiners at Royal Mail. He was travelling at 5mph.”
Job on the line
Sheriff Garry Sutherland said Hart’s level of carelessness was “somewhere in the middle” of the scale.
He told him: “I’ve listened carefully to what’s been said, in particular to the slightly unusual contractual circumstances of your employer.
“It’s not a matter that I’m considering discretionary disqualification.”
The sheriff imposed five penalty points and fined Hart £500, plus a £20 victim surcharge.
For more local court content visit our dedicated page or join us on Facebook.
