A NEWLY-QUALIFIED driver caused a two car smash on a Stirling motorway after failing to notice another car was overtaking, a court heard yesterday (Tuesday 11 November).

Ryan Calder was told by a sheriff he had made a “very serious misjudgment” that could have had terrible consequences.

Calder (19) attempted to overtake a vehicle on the M9 - without checking for other cars - and lost control of his white Renault Clio, resulting in him colliding with a Ford Focus and striking the central motorway barrier.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard that Calder, who works as a chef at the Royal Hotel in Bridge of Allan, injured the driver of the vehicle he collided with in May this year and caused her torn ligaments.

Depute Fiscal Ann Orr said: “The incident took place about nine o’clock in the morning.

“The witness was travelling east bound on the M9 motorway.

“As she checked her rear mirror her attention was drawn to the car being driven by the accused.

“She noticed the car was approaching her too fast.

“She noticed it was coming alongside her and there was another vehicle alongside her too.

“The accused lost control of his car.

“He struck the central barrier and also struck the witnesses car.

“The witness suffered some torn ligaments in relation to the case.” Calder, of Cooperage Quay, Stirling, pled guilty to driving carelessly and with excessive speed on the M9 motorway on 2 May this year.

He admitted attempting to overtake a vehicle without checking for other vehicles, losing control of his car, striking the central barrier and colliding with another vehicle causing injury to the driver.

Gordon Murphy, defending, said: “My client didn’t realise there was a car coming up in the other lane.

“He tried to pull up and lost control of the car.

“He is a very recently qualified and he is aged 19.” Sheriff Kenneth McGowan fined him £280 and ordered his driving licence to be endorsed with five penalty points.

He said: “I am prepared to accept that this was a misjudgment, but a very serious one.

“The consequences could have been a lot worse for you and everyone else involved.”