Driver convicted
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A STAGECOACH driver has been convicted of driving carelessly following a fatal accident (CM, March 16).
He was fined a total of £250 and awarded five penalty points at Edinburgh Sherriff Court.
Duncan McLaughlin of fklliIngavie denied driving without due care and attention, without reasonable consideration for other road users and driving a coach not fitted with adequate windscreen wipers and washers Evidence was given that Mr McLaughlin had been driving a Perth-based Stagecoach vehicle on a service between Edinburgh and Glasgow when his coach collided with Mrs Mary Downie, who died at the scene of the accident.
Forensic scientists Dr Bill Rodger and Duncan Cameron, said that microscopic examination of the tachograph chart showed that the coach was travelling at 58mph 10 seconds before the accident, and that Mr McLaughlin had braked to 35mph in an effort to avoid the wornan.
Mr McLaughlin claimed he had not been aware that there was a chart in the tachograph during the journey until it was produced in court. Tachographs are not legally required on this type of service.
Cross-examined, Mr McLaughlin said he had been employed by Stagecoach for two months before the accident and had held an hgv driving licence for 11 years.
He was awarded his psv driving licence in March last year. He admitted previous road traffic offences.