A van driver who ignored closure signs on the Forth Road Bridge caused traffic chaos when his vehicle was blown over in high winds.
The bridge was only open to cars at the time of the incident but courier Darren McQueen disregarded the restrictions and headed over the bridge anyway, on his way to delivering a fridge to Aberdeen.
With gusts recorded at more than 90mph that night, McQueen’s van was quickly blown over leading to a complete closure of the bridge for around seven hours as workers struggled to remove the wrecked vehicle from the central reservation.
McQueen, 44, from Beeston, Nottingham, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
He admitted that on January 9 he drove a van dangerously, ignoring signs stating the bridge was closed to all vehicles except cars, drove on to the bridge in high winds, which caused the van to be blown over on to its side.
Depute fiscal Ruaraidh Ferguson told the court that at the time McQueen was employed as a courier, delivering items throughout the UK.
The accident occurred just before midnight and there were clear signs informing drivers the bridge was only open to cars.
McQueen had driven his van on to the northbound lane and only managed to reach the south tower before his vehicle was blown over, Mr Ferguson added.
It was blown on to its side, the roof came off and the wreckage became caught up in the barrier on the central reservation.
The emergency services were called and when cautioned and charged McQueen said: “I saw the signs saying cars only but I didn’t know where I was supposed to turn off.”
Defence agent Ian Beatson told the court his client had just driven through Edinburgh and was not aware the wind was as strong as it was.
“He didn’t realise how strong gales can be on the bridge,” he added.
The solicitor repeated that McQueen had not known where he should turn off and said he had driven on to the bridge at 20mph “thinking that would be a safe speed”.
Mr Beatson added that his client had been a driver for 20 years but had now found alternative employment in a warehouse.
Sheriff Craig McSherry told McQueen: “People who are responsible for the safety of motorists using the Forth Road Bridge don’t put up these signs for fun.
“They are there to ensure an incident like this doesn’t take place.
“It’s not for drivers to decide whether they obey. You’ve got to do what you’re told.”
The sheriff added he was aware that warnings of restrictions are displayed well in advance of the bridge and there is a run-off 200 yards before it.
He said the sentence he was imposing was a direct alternative to prison.
He made McQueen subject to a community payback order with 300 hours of unpaid work and disqualified him from driving for two years.