THE erratic driving of a speeding motorist from was caused by him panicking about running out of fuel.
However, a sheriff was not impressed by the excuse given by James Thorburn.
Thorburn, of Mountjoy Terrace, Musselburgh, was not present at Dunfermline Sheriff Court but a guilty plea was submitted by his solicitor.
He admitted that on September 19, 2019, on the M90 southbound near Dunfermline, he drove a car without due care and attention, exceeded the speed limit and undertook another vehicle on a slip road.
Solicitor Roshni Joshi said that her client’s explanation was that his low fuel level warning light came on.
She went on: “He was concerned he would run out of fuel. He was looking on his sat-nav for the closest petrol station. That’s his explanation. He panicked.”
But Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “How would that have helped? Driving faster isn’t going to help."
He fined Thorburn £300 and endorsed his driving licence with six penalty points.
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