An 87-year-old man with an unblemished driving record has been banned from the roads after he drove the wrong way down the A96 near Inverurie.
John Thomson drove his red Skoda Yeti into oncoming traffic on the dual carriageway after becoming confused by the road layout.
Thomson still hopes to regain his licence after he’s served a ban, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Police saw car coming towards them
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend said the incident happened at around 3.20pm on March 1 this year and traffic was moderately busy at the time.
“Police travelling on the A96 in the direction of Kintore had just negotiated the Thainstone roundabout,” he said. “Approximately 700 metres ahead they became aware of a red Skoda Yeti driving on the same carriageway as them but against the flow of traffic.
“Officers began to slow down and saw the Skoda move from lane two to lane one and slow and come to a stop at the edge of the road.
“They activated emergency blue lights and pulled into lane one, effectively nose-to-nose with the accused’s vehicle.
“They spoke with the driver and found the accused was the only occupant of the vehicle.”
Traffic on the busy trunk road was completely halted and Thomson was told to turn his car around and drive on until he found a safe place to stop at Kintore business park.
Thomson, of Dunnydeer Park, Insch, admitted a dangerous driving charge.
Hopes to regain license after ban
His defence agent Graham Morrison said the pensioner had an “unblemished record” and was “extremely enthusiastic” about resitting his test in due course, once a mandatory disqualification period is served.
The solicitor explained that the A96 is met by various main slip roads but that the one in question here was a “very short one” near a Y-junction.
“He was heading back to Inverurie,” Mr Morrison added. “It’s a bit confusing. He went up the slip road and found himself facing the wrong way down the carriageway.
“He is extremely disappointed about this.
“He is enthusiastic about resitting his test but he knows what is going to happen today.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston said she took into account the pensioner’s clean driving record and complete lack of previous convictions and handed him a £320 fine.
Thomson was also handed the mandatory minimum 12-month roads ban and ordered to resit an extended driving test.
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