Ban for 'wrong way' motorist, 84

Magistrates heard Margaret Street is unlikely to drive again after her ban

An 84-year-old woman who drove the wrong way down a dual-carriageway has been banned from driving for 12 months.

Margaret Street, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, told police she had become "confused" on her usual route home on the A525 Rhuddlan bypass.

Prestatyn magistrates heard she did not know whether to stop her Ford Focus car, do a U-turn or to carry on.

Street pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was fined £60 and ordered to pay costs of £85.

Although she was also ordered to take an extended test before being allowed to drive again, magistrates were told that Street was unlikely to get behind the wheel again.

Blue lights

Helena Jackson, prosecuting, said that at 2200 GMT on 7 October, officers driving along the bypass saw a car heading towards them in what they saw as the outside lane.

Ms Jackson said the officers switched on their blue lights to warn other vehicles travelling behind them and avoided the Ford Focus car, which carried on along the route.

The officers turned round at the Rhuddlan roundabout and caught up with Street and flagged her down.

The court heard Street explained that she had been to St Asaph and normally returned home through Rhuddlan.

Gwyn Jones, defending, said his client realised she had made a grave error of judgment.

He said her client accepted that the standard of her driving had fallen below what was expected of a reasonable and prudent driver.