An Oban man who overtook a fuel tanker and forced an oncoming car with an 11-month-old baby as a passenger off the road appeared in court yesterday.
Malcolm Cullen, 35, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Oban Sheriff Court.
He was banned from driving for one year and fined £450.
The contracts manager, of 2A Dalintart Drive, was driving his black Audi on the A85 Oban to Perth road near Dunbeg on June 30 when the incident took place.
He admitted driving into the path of oncoming traffic when he overtook the tanker, causing the driver of an oncoming car to take evasive action to avoid a collision, swerving off the road and onto a grass verge.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty said: “The witness was driving with his partner and 11-month-old daughter in a baby seat.
“As they and the fuel tanker were approaching each other the accused pulled out and began to over take the tanker.
“He had no option but to swerve completely off the road.”
The court heard Cullen was “in shock” and continued on for a short period before turning back after being told by the driver of a car that had been travelling behind what had happened when he caught up with him.
Mr McGinty said that no-one was hurt in the incident, but the driver of the fuel tanker, who stopped immediately, described the family as “badly shaken”.
Solicitor Kevin McGuinness said that Cullen made an error of judgement.
Mr McGuinness said: “He accepts that his driving on this occasion was below acceptable standard and is much relieved that no-one was harmed.”