A TRANENT tradesman has avoided a road ban after a charge of dangerous driving was reduced to one of driving without due care and attention.

Daniel Davie, of Steading View, was travelling along the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass in his Volkswagen Caddy van when he was observed swerving between lanes.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that witness Brian McPhillips was forced to “brake sharply” to avoid colliding with Davie’s vehicle during the incident on the busy road in April last year.

Fiscal depute Mark Keane said that the Caddy van was spotted “swerving across the lanes” on the approach to the Old Craighall Roundabout before the vehicle exited the road onto the A1.

Mr McPhillips contacted the police following the incident and officers attended at self-employed tradesman Davie’s home the following day, where he admitted being the driver and he was cautioned and charged.

Solicitor Victoria Good said that her 37-year-old client had a clean licence and needed his vehicle to continue with his employment.

Sheriff Joseph Stewart agreed not to issue a driving ban and instead placed four penalty points on Davie’s licence and told him he must also pay a fine of £420.

Davie pleaded guilty to an amended charge of driving without due care and attention by repeatedly swerving between lanes of traffic, causing other road users to take evasive action to avoid a collision, on the A720 on April 9 last year.