A driver who failed to negotiate a bend on the Mountain Road, smashing into the chevron sign, was on his way to do a favour for a friend, a court has heard.
The 2.15am crash, which happened just eight days before Christmas, saw the car skid and hit the embankment before ploughing into the sign.
Prosecutor Barry Swain said 20-year-old Bodell was uninjured in the smash, but added: ’It was an unpleasant experience for him.’
He told the court no one else was involved in the accident and the defendant had approached the bend at around 60mph, not realising how tight it was.
’He braked sharply and skidded across the carriageway,’ he said.
’The car was found to have two defective tyres that clearly would have contributed to the accident.’
Bodell admitted careless driving and having two worn tyres on his car.
His advocate, Stephen Wood, told the court the case was not particularly serious.
’We have seen many cases of cars going off the road and ending up on the roof,’ he said.
’In this case, he crossed the carriageway but the damage was not as excessive as in some previous cases.’
He told magistrates Bodell was diabetic and had to endure dialysis three times a week. For that reason, he said, he did not drink and was going to Ramsey to give a lift to a friend.
But he said the defendant was not familiar with the road.
’He has gone too fast round the bend and, perhaps because of his tyre tread, he has lost control. There is tread on them: they are not bald,’ he said.
Mr Wood said his client was particularly anxious not to lose his driving licence because of his medical condition, which meant he underwent treatment, at Noble’s Hospital, between 8am and 1pm three times a week. He said this commitment would be difficult using public transport. He said Bodell already had six points on his licence after hitting the back of another car on the promenade. It was a minor incident resulting only in a cracked number plate, he said.
He was fined £500 and his licence was endorsed with five penalty points but escaped a driving ban.