A FALKIRK man has escaped losing his driving licence after appearing at Alloa Sheriff Court last week.

Brian Connolly pleaded guilty to an amended charge of careless driving after he forced two cars to take evasive action in order to avoid a potentially fatal collision.

The incident took place on March 31 of this year on the A907 Stirling to Dunfermline road, near the Marywood roundabout in Clackmannan.

Connolly was travelling west bound and attempted to overtake two vehicles in front of him. At some point in the overtaking manoeuvre two HGVs appeared and were coming towards Connolly.

The accused decided to continue ahead, at which both witnesses were forced to pull over to the side of the road to allow Connolly back into his lane to avoid a collision.

Police in an unmarked vehicle witnessed the incident and pulled Connolly over nearby.

Connolly’s defence solicitor told the court that the accused accepted that he had been careless, but explained that his previous car was more powerful than the one he was currently driving and he therefore badly misjudged the situation.

Connolly, who already had six points on his licence, works at a care home and provides for his partner and two kids by means of using his vehicle, and pleaded not to be given a further six points which would result in him losing his driver’s licence.

In sentencing, Sheriff Mackay told the accused that he was being sentenced for an error in judgement and that driving was a privilege that he could soon lose.

He was fined £600 and given five penalty points, meaning one more point would result in Connolly losing his licence.