A PETROL tanker driver who overtook a learner when having a driving lesson was recorded on the instructor's car-cam, magistrates at Dolgellau heard on Thursday.
The un-named instructor, was concerned because the tanker was tailgating the learner driver and then the tanker driver overtook when approaching a right hand bend on the A494 between Dolgellau and Bala near Capel Peniel.
Tracey Willingham, prosecuting, said that the car-cam footage was handed to the police after being told that the tanker only just managed to pass the learner driver’s vehicle when approaching a left hand bend.
The crown prosecutor said that the driver, 45-year-old John Morrison
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Ferrier, of 72, Burns Close, Stourbridge, was charged with dangerous driving with an alternative charge of careless driving.
Magistrates were shown the footage and accepted the argument that because the cab of the Foden HGV Fuel Tanker was 9 foot above the ground then the driver could see over the corner.
Ferrier pleaded guilty to careless driving and the dangerous driving charge was withdrawn.
The court heard that the female learner driving was travelling along the A494 when she was tailgated by the tanker.
The instructor was concerned when the tanker overtook on a right hand bend that was followed by a left hand bend.
Ferrier had been delivering petrol to Barmouth having left the depot at 1am.
Hywel Davies, defending said that his client had a clean driving licence and had been travelling along the same stretch of road for over two years delivering fuel to garages in the area.
“He could see a car park, road junctions and that there were no vehicles approaching. There was one blind spot behind a tree where a car might have been waiting to come out of a side road, and as a result my client did fall below the standard expected,” said Mr Davies.
He said that the tanker was governed so that it could not travel at more than 56 mph and his client estimated the speed when overtaking to between 45 and 50 mph.
“The tanker was empty and could have stopped in a reasonable distance,” added Mr Davies.
Court chairman Alun Pugh said that he and his fellow magistrates knew the road well.
“We have taken into account your early guilty plea and your clean driving licence,” the chairman told Ferrier.
The tanker driver was fined £320 for careless driving with £32 victim surcharge, £85 court costs and £150 criminal court charges, making a total of £587.
Five penalty points were put on Ferriers driving licence.