Woman caused smash on A92 after falling asleep at the wheel

Gail Forbes (45) of The Granary, Low Farm, Kingskettle, appeared in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and admitted a charge of careless driving on March 16 last year on the Forth Road Bridge, A90 and the A92 between Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly.

She drove without due care and attention, failed to maintain lane discipline, fell asleep whilst driving the car, lost control of the vehicle and collided with a car, causing injury to herself and damage to both vehicles.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said at 8.30am a driver on the bridge saw Forbes’ car drift towards their vehicle and had to slow down to avoid a collision.

Forbes’ car then struck the kerb as she left the north end of the Forth Road Bridge.

The other driver was so concerned about the erratic driving that the police were contacted. Officers on patrol on the A92 saw the vehicle being driven by the accused travelling in the opposite direction and turned in pursuit with their blue lights on.

“Before they could get to her, the accused’s car collided with the rear of another vehicle causing damage to that car,” said Mr Kapadia.

“The car had damage to its bumper which had detached and the accused’s car had severe front end damage.”

When a police officer approached Forbes’ car she was speaking on her mobile phone. She indicated to him that she “must have fallen asleep”, said the depute.

“That would be consistent with the car drifting when it was north of the Forth Road Bridge,” he added.

“She was complaining of a neck injury and an ambulance was called.”

Sheriff Craig McSherry asked Forbes, who was representing herself, how she had fallen asleep at 8.30 in the morning.

Forbes said, “At the Forth Road Bridge I had dropped a cigarette and was stamping it out on the carpet.” Of the later collision she said, “I don’t know how that occurred.”

Sheriff McSherry imposed a community payback order with 80 hours of unpaid work and disqualified Forbes from driving for 12 months.