More speeding Dolphinton drivers are banned

Published 7 Aug 2009 12:07 0 Comments

A FURTHER four drivers have been banned from the road after reaching speeds above 100 miles-per-hour on Scotland's fastest trunk road.

The notorious Dolphinton Straight stretch of the A702 has become a hotbed for mad motorists hitting high speeds.

This week five suspected ton-plus drivers appeared in the dock at Peebles Sheriff Court - four pled guilty with one going to trial in a fortnight.

And also in two week's time Berwickshire biker Neil Purves is due to face accusations of reaching the highest ever recorded speed on Scottish roads - 166 mph.

On Wednesday Martyn Wallace, Scott Shepherd, Philip Lee and Cameron Grost were all disqualified after admitting speeds in excess of 100 mph.

Wallace from North Street in Newbridge pled guilty to driving without due care and attention on April 1 when he overtook at 101.6 mph.

The 32-year-old accounts manager with phone firm 02 was returning from meetings in England when he put the foot down. He was banned for three months and fined £200.

Shepherd from Broughty Ferry was also disqualified for three months after hitting 122 mph on March 31. The unemployed 29-year-old couldn't offer any explanation for his high-speed antics. Sheriff Neil Mackinnon also fined Shepherd £220.

Lee, a medical instruments consultant from Lytham St Annes, lost his licence for two months after being clocked at 102 on May 12.

The 43-year-old told the court: "I am not a habitual speeder and I was proud of my clean driving licence."

Lee was also fined £200.

On May 13 Cumbrian student Cameron Gorst was recorded at 103 mph on his 600cc Honda. The 23-year-old was on his way to visit his girlfriend when he opened the throttle.

Defence agent Mark Harrower said: "For less than half-a-mile he allowed his speed to creep up."

Gorst was banned for two months and fined £200 by Sheriff Mackinnon.

Londoner Antony Poole will stand trial in on August 19 accused of driving dangerously on the same stretch of road by passing four cars at 102 mph.

More than a dozen motorists lost their licences last year after speeding at over 100 mph on the two-mile stretch of the A702.

And there have already been nine bans imposed so far this year at Peebles Sheriff Court.

Local campaigners as well as MSP Jeremy Purvis are calling for average-type speed cameras to positioned along the trunk road.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 07 Aug 09

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