Drunk driver smashed into Uber driver on Sunderland road
A drunk Sunderland driver was caught out when his foot slipped off his car’s accelerator, sending him into the rear of an Uber taxi, a court heard.
Paul Douglas, 44, exchanged insurance details after the smash on the city’s North Hylton Road on Saturday, December 20 – then drove off in his VW Golf.
But the cabbie had smelled booze and contacted police who quickly and easily traced Douglas to his home in Benfleet Avenue, Town End Farm.
A breath test proved he was approaching twice the legal alcohol limit, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.
Prosecutor Keith Laidlaw revealed: “What is said is that a taxi driver was driving in North Hylton Road.
“There was a road traffic collision involving Mr Douglas. It is said that he has driven into the back of the Uber taxi.
“The taxi driver states that he spoke to Mr Douglas and noticed that he was unsteady on his feet and he could smell what he believed was alcohol on his breath.
“Police have attended and the defendant was arrested. He gave two breath samples.
“Prior to the police getting to the scene, Mr Douglas had left but in fairness, he did provide the taxi driver with his details and was easy to trace.”
Douglas pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving. He gave a reading for alcohol in breath of 58mcg, against a legal limit of 35mcg.
Peter Thubron, defending, said: “He and his wife had been to a club for a meal and he had one-and-a-half pints to drink.
“But he then watched the football match and so continued to drink, probably another pint. He thought he was ok to drive.
“Then he was on the road and his foot slipped from the accelerator and he hit the taxi.
“He drove home but had given all his details to the taxi driver. There was just a small bump to his car and none to the taxi.”
District Judge Zoe Passfield banned Douglas from driving for 16 months and fined him £120, with £85 court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
She offered him a place on a ban-reducing drink driver rehabilitation programme.