Driving Ban Over Unrestrained Child

A DRIVER has been banned for six months after he was caught on camera speeding at 70mph with a child standing or kneeling on the front passenger seat.

John Naisbitt was fined £115 and given three penalty points on top of the ban after he admitted speeding and "carrying a passenger in a manner likely to cause danger".

Northallerton Magistrates' Court heard that the 66-year-old from County Durham was caught as he passed a North Yorkshire Police camera on April 27 on the A59 at Menwith Hill.

Footage shows a boy in a yellow T-shirt sitting or standing unrestrained on the front passenger seat of the red Vauxhall car Naisbitt was driving.

The camera recorded he was doing 70mph in a 60mph zone and he was lighting a cigarette as he drove past.

Mobile safety camera manager Dave Brown said: "I hope the outcome of this case serves as a wake-up call to anyone who disregards the importance of keeping safe on the roads.

"The mobile safety cameras are capable of far more than detecting speeding offences and this case should send a clear message that we can and do use them to help detect and deter such dangerous acts.

"Mr Naisbitt should consider himself lucky not to be facing more serious charges. His disregard for the safety of his young passenger could have ended in tragedy."

By Press Association reporters