A drug-driving grandad-to-be crashed a car he’d bought for his girlfriend and gave police a false name when they found him “very drowsy” and “slurring” his words.
Steven Chalmers tried to overtake three vehicles in one go without having a full view of what was ahead as he drove south on the A947 between Oldmeldrum and Hattoncrook.
But the 42-year-old’s ill-judged manoeuvre did not go as planned when Chalmers collided with an oncoming car before he had fully returned to the right side of the road.
Fortunately, the northbound car’s driver and the man’s wife in the passenger seat were both uninjured, despite their vehicle being a write-off.
Chalmers, who was disqualified from driving at the time of the collision, was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where police learned his true identity.
Fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the incident happened near Mill of Kingoodie around 5.30pm on January 18 this year.
She said: “The accused overtook three vehicles in one manoeuvre. He did so at a point in the road where this was unsafe.
“The road layout contained a right bend shortly followed by a left bend, and this resulted in reduced visibility for drivers in both directions.”
Witnesses also driving south “formed the impression that the accused did not have sufficient time or distance to safely overtake them,” she added.
A complete write-off
The driver of the car in the middle of the three reacted by applying the brakes to create a larger distance between him and the van in front to allow Chalmers to return to the southbound lane.
However, Chalmers ignored the helpful intervention and continued to try and overtake the van as well.
Ms MacVicar explained: “Having overtaken all three vehicles, the accused then attempted to return to the southbound lane but had insufficient time to do so and collided with the witness’ vehicle which was being driven in the opposing direction.”
The witness’ car came to a stop in the northbound carriageway and was left with “significant damage” to its front offside and a smashed windscreen.
The airbags had also deployed and it was later deemed to be a complete write-off by the insurance company.
Its owner had to pay an excess of £200 and received a payout of just over £1,900.
‘Very drowsy and slurring his words’
Chalmers’ car had “extensive damage to its entire offside as well as its rear axle”.
It came to rest on the verge with its airbags also deployed.
Witnesses approached Chalmers and, “due to his demeanour”, formed the view he was under the influence of something.
Police, fire and ambulance crews all attended and officers suspected Chalmers was under the influence of drugs as he was “very drowsy and slurring his words”.
He also gave officers a false name and date of birth.
He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary due to complaining of neck pain and checks revealed his true identity, and that he was disqualified from driving.
Chalmers, of Whinhill Terrace, Banff, pled guilty to dangerous driving and driving with 20 microgrammes of cocaine per litre of blood, which is double the legal limit.
He also admitted to driving while disqualified and without insurance, as well as attempting to pervert the course of justice.
‘It was a stupid decision’
Defence agent Stuart Beveridge said his client had bought the car that afternoon as a surprise for his partner, who was pregnant at the time.
He said he had decided to drive it to go and see her as she was unwell and in hospital.
The solicitor went on: “That said, he should not have been driving, not only because he didn’t have a licence or insurance, but because he’d been taking drugs.
“He hadn’t taken cocaine that day, but clearly it was still within his system.
“He committed to the overtaking manoeuvre. He thought he had time but obviously misjudged that.”
Mr Beveridge added that Chalmers was now a single man, having separated from his partner at the time, and was due to become a grandfather in the new year.
He added: “He very much regrets what he did that day. It was a stupid decision. He accepts that”.
Sheriff Andrew Miller said: “In my view, a sentence of imprisonment is the only appropriate outcome in relation to these offences”.
He ordered Chalmers to be jailed for 12 months and banned him from driving for six-and-a-half years.
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