A dozy delivery driver has been banned from the roads after he almost fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of his van.
Gordon Chan appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted driving carelessly on November 25 last year.
The court heard the 33-year-old had been on his final delivery of the day at around 7.35pm when he started to become sleepy.
Fiscal depute Sophie Hanlon said Chan’s friend was also in the white van at the time and realised he was having to engage him in conversation to keep him awake.
She added, as they were driving along the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road, near the junction with Old Rayne, Insch, the vehicle started to sway into the middle of the road.
The court heard that this was also observed by an ambulance crew who were driving along the same road at the time.
Ms Hanlon said that, as a result of his erratic driving, the paramedics used their radios to call the police, who stopped him shortly afterwards.
She said: “The accused was driving the vehicle with a friend in the passenger seat as he carried out a delivery in the course of his employment.
“Whilst on the A96, the friend of the accused became concerned that he was becoming tired and was requiring to actively speak to the accused to make him alert.
“Meanwhile, another motorist’s attention was drawn to the accused’s driving. An ambulance driver noticed the accused’s vehicle was swaying in the course of the journey across the lane from side to side and towards the centre line on the road.
“The ambulance driver then conveyed their concern through the radio and police attended and stopped the vehicle.
“When they spoke to the accused, he stated he had been tired and his passenger had been trying to keep him awake.”
The court heard Chan, of 27 king Street, Inverbervie, had two previous convictions for careless driving and had been disqualified once before.
He no longer works as a delivery driver.
Sheriff Alison Stirling banned the dad-of-one from the roads for six months and ordered him to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work.
