Dangerous Driving Reduced to Careless Driving Glasgow Sheriff Court

Our client had just finished her shift at a hospital and was making her way home along a familiar route when she inexplicably missed a red traffic signal. Unfortunately, a young boy was using the crossing with his mother and she knocked him down, causing him to lose consciousness. Fortunately, there was no lasting damage.

Our client accepted from the outset that she was culpable for the accident. Indeed, she had attended Court on her own and attempted to plead guilty to a charge of dangerous driving only to be dissuaded from doing so by the Presiding Sheriff who advised her to seek legal advice. She attended at our office and we advised that the standard of driving fell below - yet, crucially, not far below - the standard expected of a careful and competent driver. We advised that a plea of not guilty to dangerous driving be entered and that we would liaise with the Procurator Fiscal's Office in Glasgow with a view to persuading them to accept a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of careless driving. At the intermediate diet, we tendered a plea of guilty to careless driving. It was not acceptable to the Procurator Fiscal Depute at that stage. The matter proceeded to the Trial Diet and further representations were made to the Crown at that stage. It was accepted on the morning of the Trial that our client's driving had fallen below - but not far below - the standard expected of the careful and competent driver. Accordingly, her previously tendered plea to careless driving was accepted.

We made a plea in mitigation on behalf of our client which resulted in 4 penalty points being endorsed upon her licence along with a compensation order of £150. 

This case was dealt with by our Mr Simpson at Glasgow Sheriff Court on 8th December 2017.

 Kept Licence!