Lorry driver fined £600 and given six penalty points after misjudged overtaking manoeuvre causes accident on Highland road in which cyclist was hurt

A LORRY driver who overtook a cyclist, hit an oncoming lorry as he was drawing back into his own side of the road, a court heard.

The cyclist then tried to take evasive action to avoid debris on the road from the accident, fell off his bike and injured himself.

Jamie Taylor, (42), Balnafettack Road, Inverness, appeared at Tain Sheriff Court today to admit an amended charge of careless driving on the B9165 near Station Road, Fearn on June 11, 2020.

Procutor fiscal depute Hilary Michopoulou said the accident happened at around 12.45pm on a stretch of road where there were a series of bends. The road was dry at the time.

“The accused performed an overtaking manoeuvre on a cyclist who was on a short, straight section of road,” she said.

“There was a lorry coming the other way and the accused was unable to complete the overtaking manoeuvre and both lorries collided, knocking off each other’s wing mirrors.

“Debris from both vehicles was thrown on to the carriageway and the complainer - the cyclist - crashed into the wing mirrors on the road. He tried to take evasive action but that caused him to fall off his bike.”

Ms Michopoulou said paramedics assessed the cyclist at the scene and took him to hospital where he was found to have sustained grazing to his left arm, leg and knee. He was discharged from hospital the same day.

Defence agent Rory Gowans said that his client was working at the time for a courier company based in Inverness and normally drove a 3.5 ton lorry, but that day had been asked to deliver pallets to a Fearn address in a 7.5 ton lorry.

“He passed the cyclist fairly successfully and pulled in but, as a consequence of this being a heavier vehicle, he misjudged how easy it would be to get onto the other side of the road,” said the lawyer. “Both vehicles stopped immediately to make sure the cyclist was okay."

Mr Gowans said Taylor accepted his error of judgement and had been so frightened by the incident that he had given up his job. Latterly he had been working as a pizza delivery driver. He had cooperated fully with police officers and the court.

Sheriff Gary Aitken fined Taylor £600 with a £40 victim’s surcharge. He also imposed six penalty points on Taylor’s licence.

Sheriff Aitken mentioned in passing the changes to the Highway Code allowing cyclists to ride in the centre of lanes on quieter roads.

He said: “He (Taylor) is very lucky, as is the cyclist, that this did not end up a lot worse.”