An Angus man who drove into the path of an oncoming vehicle which ended up on its roof told a court he knew when he started the manoeuvre he had made a mistake.
Steven Whyte, 37, of Ladybridge Street, Arbroath, refused legal representation when he appeared before Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown at Forfar Sheriff Court.
He admitted he was in the wrong when he tried to overtake a car on the A932 Forfar to Friockheim road near the Milldens road on June 13 2018.
However, he blamed a hidden dip in the road and said there were no warning signs to alert drivers to the risk.
Depute fiscal Laura McGillvrey told the court a witness driving from Friockheim to Forfar saw Whyte behind him at about 5.30pm on June 13.
She said: “He (Whyte) moved into the carriageway in an attempt to overtake, he observed the car (coming towards him) but was fully committed and was unable to return to his own side of the road.”
The driver coming in the opposite direction was forced to swerve. His car mounted the verge in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision and hit a dry-stone wall.
It was then hit by Whyte’s car and flipped on its roof.
When cautioned and charged by police, Whyte, who works in a bank, said: “I agree with the charge, it was my fault.”
He was charged with driving without due care or attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road by carrying out an overtaking manoeuvre when it was not safe to do so, colliding with an on-coming car and damaging both vehicles.
He pled guilty at an earlier hearing.
Addressing the bench he ssaid: “I knew I made a mistake. I have been driving for 20 years and have never had an accident or an incident on the road.
“When I made the manoeuvre the road was clear, there were no warning signs of a hidden dip or road markings.
“The road was clear but when I started to overtake I realised I had made a mistake. I knew I was guilty and ask for discretion in your decision as this will affect my childcare arrangements.”
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown deferred sentence until January 17 2018 for the preparation of a criminal justice and social work report to determine if a fine or unpaid work would be appropriate.
