A pensioner with failing eyesight knocked a cyclist into the road with his car and drove on, a court has heard.
Thomas Begg – who has since had a cataract operation – lost a wing mirror in the collision, which caused a cut and bruises to the cyclist.
The 82-year-old appeared at Tain Sheriff Court and admitted careless driving by driving when he had defective eyesight.
Fiscal Depute Shamielah Ghafar told the court that the cyclist had been travelling along the B9166 by the ANTA premises near Balintore at around 11.45am on January 14 this year.
Ms Ghafar said that as the cyclist negotiated a slight bend in the road he was struck by the side of Begg’s red Peugeot car, which was travelling in the same direction.
Car knocked cyclist off bike
The impact knocked the cyclist from his bike, causing him to fall onto the carriageway, where he suffered his injuries.
“The car did not stop and went round the bend,” the fiscal depute said.
A wing mirror was ripped from the car by the collision and was recovered by the cyclist.
Begg was later traced, cautioned and charged.
His solicitor Maureen Duffy said the pensioner had been distracted by the lights of an oncoming car in the moments before the incident.
She said: “He described being somewhat blinded by an oncoming car that he says had its full headlights on and was approaching a slight bend.”
Driver underwent cataract surgery
She also revealed that Begg, of Harbour View, Balintore, had undergone cataract surgery in the months after the collision.
“He does accept that his driving was careless and fell below the standard of a careful driver,” Ms Duffy said.
Sheriff Gary Aitken said: “That cyclist is very lucky and so is he.
“The operation for the cataract should have been before he was driving about, not several months later.”
Handing down a fine of £470 and six penalty points, Sheriff Aitken told Begg: “If you find yourself having problems with your eyes you go to the doctor and get them checked and you make sure you only drive when you can see to drive.”
