Teen driver almost hit pedestrians

A TEENAGE driver lost control of his vehicle, narrowly missing pedestrians before crashing his car, a court has been told. Stephen Whatling, of Fishbane Close, Ipswich, was driving a BMW 3 series car when he took a right hand into the town's Belstead Road too fast and mounted the footpath.

A TEENAGE driver lost control of his vehicle, narrowly missing pedestrians before crashing his car, a court has been told.

Stephen Whatling, of Fishbane Close, Ipswich, was driving a BMW 3 series car when he took a right hand into the town's Belstead Road too fast and mounted the footpath.

After rejoining the road the 18-year-old, who admitted driving without due care and attention, collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction, said Pat Taylor, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court.

David Goodin, mitigating, told magistrates sitting in Ipswich that the A level student – who hopes to join the Royal Navy in the autumn – didn't know why he had lost control of the vehicle.

The court heard Whatling has since taken three advanced drivers training sessions where his motoring skills were described as well above average for his age.

Mr Goodin added the only explanation is that Whatling was travelling too fast for the bend because the rear end of the car he was driving tends to shift in the wet.

Magistrates took into account Whatling's early guilty plea and fined him £75 and ordered him to pay £35 costs. He was also given three penalty points on his driving licence.