Speeder Had 'Disaster Potential'

BBC, Monday 25th February 2008

A taxi driver who was speeding at 111mph on a motorway with "potential for disaster" has been given a ban.

Jacqueline Johnson was caught by a mobile speed camera on the M876 motorway near Torwood, Stirlingshire.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard she was driving her Skoda Superb at the "grossly excessive" speed.

Johnson, 45, from Moodiesburn, Lanarkshire, was not carrying a passenger at the time. She was banned for six months and fined £200.

The court heard that Johnson was travelling from her home to Edinburgh on 26 July 2007 and had taken a detour to visit a friend when she was caught.

Depute fiscal Graham McLachlan told the court: "The motorway has a speed limit of 70 miles per hour, and the accused was seen driving a Skoda car at 111 miles per hour by a mobile speed camera."

'Very apologetic'

Johnson pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to driving at excessive speed. John Mulholland, defending, pleaded for Johnson to be allowed to keep her licence as she would lose her driving job.

He said: "Mrs Johnson was on her way to Edinburgh and decided she would detour to a friend's house on the way.

"She had to rush to get there and that is why she reached this speed.

"While I am not trying to diminish the seriousness of what she has done, the conditions were good so in the circumstances I would ask that she is allowed to keep her licence.

"She is very apologetic and has never been before the court before."

Sheriff William Gilchrist told Johnson her "grossly excessive" speed had "potential for a disaster".

"Disqualification is the only appropriate course of action even though you are a first offender," he said.