Carlow lorry driver fined for careless driving

A truck driver who overtook another truck forced oncoming traffic onto the hard shoulder last week's district court heard.

At 8.25 on August 18, 2022 at Mucklagh, the defendant Alexsandras Andruskevicius of 130, Heatherhill Court, Graiguecullen, Carlow, was driving an articulated lorry when he overtook a rigid lorry.

His solicitor said there was some interaction between the drivers of both lorries. The defendant had been behind the other driver for some time and was frustrated. He said when he attempted to overtake the other lorry, the driver had sped up.

There had been no injuries and he was pleading with the judge to leave him his licence, his solicitor said.

His employer at the time had been putting him under pressure to undertake five or six runs in a day. He is now working for another operator. He had no previous convictions.

Judge Andrew Cody remarked that it wouldn't have been a ''pretty sight'' for motorists travelling in the opposite direction to see two trucks, one articulated and one rigid heading towards them.

The offence of dangerous driving was reduced to careless driving and he directed the defendant to pay €1,000 to Pieta House and fined him €300.