Lorry driver’s license revoked for 20 years after driving so dangerously it ‘defied belief’

A lorry driver has had his professional license revoked for 20 years after an inquiry heard of his reckless manoeuvres on one of Scotland’s most dangerous roads.

Hugh Richardson, 54, from Glasgow, had his HGV license revoked until at least 2035 “in the interests of road safety”.

He was disqualified following traffic commissioner for Scotland Joan Aitken’s warning she would not wait until he had killed or injured someone before bringing his career to an end.

Mr Richardson had been applying for the reinstatement of his license after a three-year ban he incurred for traffic offences – among them exceeding driving hours and using a mobile phone at the wheel.

The inquiry heard how he had been convicted of dangerous driving on the A75 when he exceeded the 40mph limit in his lorry in addition to driving dangerously close behind another vehicle, overtaking a car near Creetown even though there were continuous double white lines and also overtaking a car and a lorry near Carsluith in one manoeuvre around a blind right hand bend and over a blind summit.

The former lorry driver was found guilty at Stranraer Sheriff Court in November 2012.

He was fined £1,000 and was made to re-sit his driving test after an 18-month ban.

But Mr Richardson told the inquiry he was a reformed character after a prison term in England and that he wanted to drive lorries again because the job was better paid than his current ones.

Ms Aitken criticised him for not disclosing his dangerous driving charges at a previous appearance before the inquiry in August 2012.

She said in a written decision that it “defied belief” that an HGV driver could drive as he did on the A75.

She said: “Mr Richardson wants his entitlement back to make more money and to do a driving job that he likes.

“Money being his motivation (he spoke of being able to double his money) I have to be especially wary of him for he is a man who historically has put money before road safety and respect for others.”

She added: “I remind him and also myself that it is simply good fortune which has protected other road users from death or injury through Mr Richardson’s conduct.

“I do not have to wait for him to kill or injure someone before I can exercise my powers to disqualify indefinitely. I am entitled to use my powers to prevent such happening.”