Unsupervised learner driver who caused huge crash convicted for …
An unsupervised learner driver whose careless driving resulted in a multi-vehicle crash has been fined hundreds of pounds and given seven penalty points. They were one of four people sentenced in court for traffic offences.
The learner driver had seven penalty points put on their licence after they failed to stop in time, colliding with the car in front and pushing it into another vehicle in January. They also received a £425 fine for not having insurance and holding a provisional licence at the time of the collision.
Another driver was given the largest fine of £640 for driving out of a driveway, striking a cyclist and causing them minor injuries. They received six penalty points.
Two more drivers were sentenced following collisions in January. One driver admitted careless driving by reversing out of a parking space, into an unattended car. They received three penalty points on their licence and fined £72. A second driver also admitted to careless driving when they pulled out of a junction into the path of an oncoming vehicle causing damage. They were fined £146 and issued 4 penalty points. Neither driver stopped at the scene.
In total, 20 penalty points were issued to four drivers who were each ordered to pay costs and victim surcharges. All four were sentenced for careless driving and other related offences at a special session at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (August 10) when each of the drivers admitted their driving standards fell below legal requirements at the time of their collision.
Motorists can be banned from driving if they are convicted of a driving offence of receiving 12 or more penalty points within three years. Any penalty points on your provisional licence that have not expired will be carried over to your full licence when you pass your test. However, your licence will be cancelled if you get any further penalty points that take you up to a total of 6 or more within 2 years of passing your driving test.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "Essex Police and the Safer Essex Roads Partnership work hard to make our roads safe. You can take the Vision Zero Pledge, which asks drivers to consider their driving skills and, where necessary, Pledge their support to take action to improve their driving standard and make better driving decisions, to keep everyone safe.
"Help us reduce collisions and casualties and make roads across Essex safe for all road users. If you have dash cam footage of other road users driving anti-socially or dangerously, upload your footage to Extra Eyes. Extra Eyes is supported by Essex Police and the Safer Essex Road Partnership (SERP) to help us tackle poor driving standards."