A pensioner who caused a smash on one of Scotland’s most deadly roads escaped with a driving ban of just 28 days.
Perth Sheriff Court heard on Thursday how James Waddell tried to overtake a lorry on the A9 near Ballinluig before hitting the vehicle and being thrown into the path of another lorry travelling in the opposite direction.
But lawyers acting for the 76-year-old argued that driving was the only means he had of visiting his 100-year-old mother and that his part-time employment as a delivery driver depended on him keeping his licence.
Waddell, of Bonhard Cottages, Bo’ness, admitted driving carelessly on November 22 last year by trying to overtake a car-transporter in his van.
Depute fiscal John Malpass said the incident occurred as the road changed from dual to single carriageway.
Waddell, who already had points on his licence, was behind the transporter as it was overtaking another lorry at around 2pm.
He said: “A car transporter pulled out to overtake an articulated lorry and the accused carried out the same manoeuvre.
“It came to the point that the car transporter was able to pull in, but it was at the hatching.
“Consequently, the accused didn’t know where to go in his vehicle, collided with the car transporter, which catapulted him into the oncoming vehicle.”
Both lorries, as well as Waddell’s van, were damaged in the crash, which happened near the junction of the A827 Ballinluig to Killin road.
Solicitor David Duncan, defending, said: “He genuinely felt at the time that the manoeuvre was possible and safe.”
He said the small income from Waddell’s job with with a florist helped him and his wife to live more comfortably.
Additionally, he said Waddell’s car was the only means by which he was able to visit his mother.
Mr Duncan said: “His mother is 100 years old and lives 30 miles from him. Driving is the only way he can maintain this relationship.”
As well as the ban, Sheriff Fleetwood fined Waddell £400.