Turriff woman fined after nearly causing road crash

A woman who nearly caused a road crash while overtaking has been fined.

Sophie Norrie (23) appeared at Banff Sheriff Court facing a charge in connection with the incident.

Norrie, of near Kinbate, Turriff, pleaded guilty to driving a car carelessly by overtaking another vehicle when it was unsafe to do so and causing others to take evasive action to avoid a collision on the A947 road on August 19, 2023.

Fiscal depute Anne Mann told the court it was 6.30pm on the day when a witness saw Norrie driving northbound on the Turriff to Banff road.

When navigating a double bend the accused was seen overtaking a vehicle.

Ms Mann said another vehicle was seen travelling in the other direction and the witness had to brake quickly to avoid a head-on collision.

The witness attended at Banff police station and reported the incident. Norrie was later traced, cautioned and charged.

Her solicitor Stuart Flowerdew said his client was a mobile hairdresser and uses her vehicle to carry out her work.

He added: “She accepts this is not the way she should be driving. She regrets it very much.”

The court heard that since the incident she had been caught speeding and had been given three penalty points.

Sheriff Robert McDonald told Norrie he considered the offence at the high end of careless driving.

He fined her £500 and endorsed her driving licence with six penalty points.