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A trucker has been banned from driving for smashing his lorry full of glue into a minivan after failing to clear his windscreen.
Christopher Tribe, 57, did not make sure make sure the windows of his HGV were clear of mist before setting off on the road.
Footage from his own dashcam showed how this limited visibility, meaning he was peering through a small gap when he went into the back of the vehicle in front.
The camera caught the horrified look on his face after the impact, which smashed his windcreen, knocked the minivan nose-down into a ditch, and also damaged other cars.
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Some of the glue Tribe had been transporting also spilled into the road, the B5129 at Sandycroft in Flintshire, north Wales on December 3 last year.
Police drone photos from the scene show the disruption, with the minibus still pointing down into a ditch, and emergency services vehicles parked on the carriageway.
Prosecutor James Ashton told Mold Magistrates Court that Tribe had ‘poor visibility due to his misted up windscreen.’
The court heard the sun was low, which also made driving conditions difficult before the crash.
There were no serious injuries, but the minibus driver and passenger were bruised, as well as the driver of another car.
The court heard Tribe had previously used his phone behind the wheel on his journey but was not on it at the time of the crash.
Patrick Geddes, defending said: ‘He’s clearly remorseful and didn’t minimise his behaviour.
‘He’s fully aware this could have resulted in serious injury – or worse.
‘His driving was dangerous and caused a collision.
Cold weather hacks for your car
Now we’re coming into winter, it can be even more tempting to leave ice and mist on the car, or only clear a limited hole for visibility.
But as the crash shows, this can lead to deadly consequences.
It might be tempting to use a quick fix to get your car ready in cold weather, but some tricks can do more harm than good.
Motoring experts from online car retailer Cinch warned of two hacks, which could end up damaging your ride, and the best ones to try.
What to avoid
- Pouring warm or boiling water on a frozen windscreen – The sudden temperature change can break the windscreen, so opting for de-icer spray is safer
- Rubbing potatoes on the windscreen – This myth has emerged online, but it could leave a sticky film and end up damaging the wipers
Best hacks to try
Fill a sock with silica-based cat litter and place it inside the car to stop foggy windows
Use hand sanitiser to de-freeze locks thanks to high alcohol content
Cover wing mirrors with socks overnight
‘A contributory factor was that the sun was very low; it added to the poor visibility. It doesn’t absolve Mr Tribe, but it is a factor.
‘There is mention of his phone. He did do that; it’s not anything what resulted in the collision.
‘He checked it whilst travelling, and he shouldn’t have been doing that.’
Magistrates chair Lucy Bureau, told him: ‘Mr Tribe, it was a fairly horrific incident – I’m sure you agree.’
Tribe, of Buckley, was handed a 36 week suspended sentence and banned from driving for 18 months.
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