Melrose 22-year-old fined £500 for careless driving on A68 near St Boswells

Aaron Kerr admitted crossing a double-white line and overtaking when it was unsafe to do so.

That offence was committed on the A68 between St Boswells and Jedburgh on a stretch of the road dotted with hidden dips.

Kerr’s lawyer explained that there had been a couple of slow-moving vehicles in front of him but, after he began overtaking, they appeared to speed up a little, forcing him into the stretch of road with double-white lines on and making it difficult to get back onto his side of the road as quickly as he’d have liked.

He added that the manoeuvre had been a misjudgement on his client’s behalf.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard that Kerr needs his licence as he is a plant driver on building sites.

Kerr, of Harleyburn Drive in Melrose, was initially charged with dangerous driving, but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving without due care and attention.

He was fined £500 and his driving licence was endorsed with five penalty points.