A pensioner who was spotted swerving over the A9 before mounting a verge has admitted careless driving.
Concerned road users called police after seeing Iain Munro driving south between Invergordon and Easter Kinkell.
Roadside alcohol and drug testing proved negative and a doctor confirmed that Munro was fit to drive.
Munro, 68, appeared at Tain Sheriff Court to admit a single charge of careless driving in relation to the incident on June 15 2021.
Vehicles took ‘evasive action’
The charge detailed that Munro repeatedly accelerated and braked without cause, drove on a verge and swerved across both carriageways causing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action.
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair said: “Delivery drivers were on A9 when they became aware of a vehicle being driven by the accused.
“It appeared to be swerving over the road.”
Police were contacted and caught up with Munro’s car south of the Cromarty bridge.
“They saw the vehicle swerving over the road, at one point it mounted the grass verge,” Mrs Gair said.
The vehicle was stopped and roadside testing for drugs and alcohol proved negative.
Pensioner was ‘fit to drive’
An ambulance was called and Munro was checked and found to have no conditions and to be fit to drive.
He was subsequently cautioned and charged.
Solicitor John MacColl said his client, a retired widower, was “not impaired in any way” but added: “It is clear he was not paying enough attention.”
He told Sheriff Gary Aitken that Munro relied on his licence due to the “fairly rural location” of his home in Knockglass Road, Dunbeath.
Sheriff Gary Aitken fined Munro £470 and issued him six penalty points.
