Inverness sheriff tells speeder 123mph was ‘ridiculous’ speed on A9 ‘Scotland’s most dangerous road’

A sheriff at Inverness today (Wednesday May 5) told a driver he had been driving at a “ridiculous speed” on what she believed is Scotland’s most dangerous road.

Barber Jason Johnson appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson to admit a charge of dangerous driving by hitting 123mph on a dual-carriageway section of the A9 at Alvie near Aviemore.

Fiscal depute David Morton told the court it was an instance of dangerous driving by speed alone when Johnson (37) of Bibby Place, Elgin, was caught by a police patrol.

He was heading north on the evening of April 3 this year, and was the only vehicle on the road at this time when police clocked him “travelling at some speed,” said Mr Morton.

Defence solicitor Fintan Curran told the court that his client’s wife who was in the car with him was pregnant and feeling unwell and he allowed his speed to creep up to try and get home as quickly as possible.

The father of four drives his children to school, at times works in care homes, and takes courses in other parts of the country said Mr Curran, and would suffer from the loss of his licence.

Banning Johnson for 22 months, fining him £580 and ordering him to resit his driving test Sheriff Matheson said: “This was a ridiculous speed to be going at on what I believe is Scotland’s most dangerous road.”

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.