A shocking incident on a dual carriageway terrified road users as a drunk driver was spotted racing down the motorway with his eyes closed, leading others to believe he was asleep. The driver, identified as cyber security expert Paul Maddicks, was seen by another motorist swerving from side to side and nearly hitting the kerb. In a bid to wake Maddicks up, the witness drove parallel to him, shouting across the road, but Maddicks refused to stop and continued driving for several miles.
Despite a red traffic light, Maddicks did not halt his dangerous driving. Another concerned motorist attempted to prevent him from driving off, but Maddicks ignored their efforts. The witness then contacted the police as Maddicks’ erratic behaviour raised suspicions of drunkenness. A patrol vehicle eventually intercepted Maddicks on the Kingsway after being followed by the concerned motorist.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, Maddicks, 48, admitted to driving on the A90 with nearly six times the legal alcohol limit in his breath. The court learned that Maddicks had consumed a significant amount of wine at home and decided to go for a drive to avoid his family seeing him in such a state. Maddicks, who earns around £100,000 per year as an IT expert, was fined £2,666 and banned from driving for 20 months by Sheriff John Rafferty.
During the court proceedings, Maddicks’ solicitor revealed that Maddicks had a clean driving record and accepted full responsibility for his actions. Describing a dependency on alcohol, Maddicks had been drinking alone before getting behind the wheel. He acknowledged his mistake and expressed a commitment to addressing his drinking problem.
This dangerous incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drink-driving and the potential consequences of getting behind the wheel while under the influence. Maddicks’ actions could have had tragic consequences, highlighting the importance of responsible and sober driving to ensure the safety of all road users.