Van driver is fined for badly cracked windscreen on A9
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The picture clearly shows how badly his vision was impeded by a network of cracks on his windscreen as he headed from Sutherland.
But thanks to the sharp eyes of a police patrol, horrified officers prevented the driver from continuing for a further 79 miles on the A9 to Inverness and then along the A96 to Elgin.
A police spokesman said: “The driver of this vehicle gave no thought to the dangers his vehicle posed to other road users.”
This van in a “dangerous condition” was stopped on the A9 at Tomich near Invergordon while on a journey from Brora to Elgin.
The driver told officers that the windscreen was smashed by an object hitting it near Dornoch.
He had initially stopped and attempted to arrange a windscreen replacement company to attend.
After he was told this would be several days and would require the vehicle to be recovered the driver decided to continue his journey to Elgin
The police spokesman said the driver was given a conditional offer of a fixed penalty for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
His driver’s licence was endorsed with three penalty points and he was given a £100 fine.
The vehicle could have also been issued with a roadworthiness prohibition known as a PG9.
PC Alasdair Horning of road policing said: “Vehicles are designed and constructed so that the driver can at all times have a full view of the road and traffic ahead of the vehicle.
“All glass should be maintained in such a condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver while the vehicle is being driven.
“The driver on this occasion initially reacted responsibly by attempting to obtain a replacement windscreen but due to the time he was going to have to wait for the vehicle to be recovered, decided to drive on with seriously reduced vision.
“He showed no regard to the safety of other road users. Had the driver failed to observe a pedestrian, cyclist or other road users he would undoubtedly have caused a collision, resulting in injury and/or damage to property or vehicles.”
PC Horning added: “If you have a seriously damaged windscreen and cannot get or wait for a roadside replacement, for the safety of yourself and others, organise a recovery agent to uplift the vehicle and have it taken to a place where it can be repaired.
“If you cannot wait for recovery, park the vehicle and arrange for someone to collect you.”
Last week police spoke of the dangers of speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a phone while driving following a rise in offences in April.
