Wrong-way motorway driver banned

Aird drove for more than five miles in the wrong direction

A pensioner who drove the wrong way along a motorway for more than five miles has been banned for 20 months.

James Aird, 80, of Sherwood Park, Lockerbie, admitted driving dangerously on the A74(M) in Dumfries and Galloway.

He was going to lay a wreath on his brother-in-law's grave in nearby Middlebie last December but took a wrong turn onto the motorway.

Dumfries Sheriff Court heard he had sold his car and given up driving since the incident. He was also fined £400.

The court heard how Aird travelled for more than five miles against the flow of traffic on the southbound lane of the motorway.

Depute procurator fiscal Pamela Rhodes said a police patrol unit had seen vehicles braking and swerving as they spotted the car going the wrong way.

The police then raced to join the road on the northbound lane in a bid to get ahead of Aird's car.

Sold car

In the meantime, one driver had to swerve to avoid a collision and hit the crash barrier receiving neck and back injuries.

Eventually the police got ahead of the car and switched to the southbound lane to stop it.

When they confronted the driver he told them it was not the road he normally took and was surprised to see all the traffic coming towards him.

Aird admitted driving dangerously between Eaglesfield and the Water of Milk Bridge.

His solicitor told the court that he had been going to lay a wreath at his brother-in-law's grave and had taken the wrong turn onto the motorway.

The solicitor added that the advice of the police to him that day was not to drive again and he had taken that advice and sold his car.

He was fined and banned and also ordered to sit an extended test should he ever change his mind about driving again.