Dundee driver banned for A90 mayhem

Nov 20 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TAXI driver whose recklessness almost caused an accident on the A90 near Perth was yesterday banned from driving.

Ronald Wright was ferrying two seven-year-old children to school when he was spotted by cops driving hard up the back of a van, forcing its driver to take evasive action.

Fiscal depute Stuart Richardson told Perth Sheriff Court that Wright caused mayhem in the offside, east-bound lane of the dual carriageway near its junction with the Inchmichael to Errol road, at 8.15am last June 24.

“He overtook other vehicles and then was seen to drive along behind the van far too close,” said the fiscal.

“The van was doing about 60mph and suddenly a space emerged in the inside lane. Before the van driver could manoeuvre his vehicle into the lane to get out of the way Mr Wright overtook it on the inside.

“He then pulled out in front of the van and its driver had to apply his brakes to avoid a collision.”

Wright’s solicitor said there had been a queue of traffic behind the van and his client became frustrated.

As a result of the incident, single man Wright had lost his job, was unable to continue as a volunteer driver for a local charity, and was faced with being unable to visit his two children in Yorkshire.

Wright, of Forest Park Place, Dundee, admitted driving dangerously and almost causing a collision on the Perth to Dundee A90.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie disqualified him for a year and imposed a £200 fine.