A motorist who caused a head-on crash after she mistakenly left a layby and began driving the wrong way along a West Cumbria dual carriageway has been sentenced by a judge.
Margaret Janice Scott, a woman of impeccable good character, had briefly stopped alongside the A595 at Lillyhall, near Workington, to phone her husband at around 5pm on September 22 last year.
But instead of turning left to rejoin the two-lane westbound carriageway, 59-year-old Scott headed right — going eastbound — believing she was heading the correct way on single carriageway road.
A police officer in an unmarked vehicle saw one westbound motorist take evasive action and change lane. But behind them, a Toyota Yaris driver had no time to react and was struck head-in by Scott’s Honda Jazz.
“She was forced into the (central) crash barrier,” said Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting at Carlisle Crown Court today. “Her airbag deployed. She was worried her vehicle might be on fire as she smelled burning. She used her foot to force open the door and escape the vehicle.”
The woman was left in a state of shock but her injuries were luckily limited to a burst lip and bruised shin. In an impact statement, she spoke of sleepless nights after the crash, and being more anxious as a driver and passenger. Seeing the aftermath of a subsequent motorway smash had caused a severe panic attack.
Scott, meanwhile, later told police a loss of concentration was to blame at a time of great stress. Asked whether she deemed her driving to be dangerous, she replied: “Oh absolutely, 100 per cent.”
After Scott admitted a dangerous driving charge, defence barrister Judith McCullough said her regret and sorrow were unequivocal and genuine, adding: “I can assure the court she punishes herself for this offence on a daily basis.”
Judge Nicholas Barker gave Scott, of Frizington Road, Cleator Moor, an 18-month community order and 180 hours’ unpaid work. She was banned from driving for two years and must take an extended retest.
“It is simply a mercy that the consequences, for her and for you, were not more grave,” Judge Barker told Scott, saying that was due to a roll of the dice and good fortune. “A collision of that sort could easily have had tragic and catastrophic consequences.”
