Crash driver keeps license

A DRIVER who braked suddenly on a dual carriageway causing another driver to hit the central crash barrier and flip over has narrowly avoided losing his license.

Samuel Styles, 21, was fined £175 and six penalty points were slapped on his licence after he admitted an offence of careless driving.

South East Suffolk magistrates heard Styles, of Lower Road, Falkenham, was travelling along the A14 near to the junction with the A140 in his company van at around 7.30am on September 29.

After moving into the outside lane to overtake slow moving traffic, Styles remained there, at which point a black Vauxhall Astra accelerated until it was close to Styles' Hyundai van.

Prosecuting, Naomi Turner told the court Styles then braked causing the driver of the Astra, Peter Day, to brake too.

The Astra swerved before hitting the central crash barrier and flipping onto its roof.

Mrs Turner said: "A witness in a car travelling in the same direction said both vehicles were travelling at about 75mph and the Astra was travelling very close to the van."

It emerged that Day, who was driving the Vauxhall Astra, had already pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving and been sentenced for his part in the incident.

Defending, Nikki Miller said Styles, who is a mechanical engineer, already had three points on his licence.

She said: "Without his driving licence it would be impossible for him to drive to work. He's required to travel out to sites and carry out work on fork lifts."

She added he had been unsure what to do when the Vauxhall Astra got close to him because of a lack of driving experience, having only passed his test three years ago.

Sentencing Styles to the fine and points penalty, magistrate Diana Hunt said: "We have given you credit for your guilty plea. However, you don't need me to tell you that one more error and you will be banned."

Styles was also ordered to pay £60 towards the cost of the prosecution.