Hello all,
Will explain as best as i can. Im asking for advice to see what could i end up with potentially.
To also further let you know, i have done a driver improvement course in the summer of 2021 but another offense later down the year of 2021 left me with 3 points on license for driving without due care and attention.
On Thursday 17/08, i was driving to pick up a family member who was having some health problem from their shift at work. I wasnt manically driving, was trying to get to them as soon as i could. The road i was going down has a normal traffic lane and a bus lane to the left of the traffic lane. There is a major roundabout towards end of road i was driving down and i have to go straight across the roundabout. As i was some far back of the road i saw a few cars which were slowing down, i thought maybe queue was building up for whatever reason, which does happen for those needing to get to the A12. I saw a car leave the queue and use the bus lane to get out. As i got more closer to the back of few cars, i read the bus time sign and saw that it was out of hours, so just like the car that had used it, i decided to use it so i wasnt caught up. As i got in to the bus lane and tried picking up speed, since the road bends slightly, as im near ending the bus lane, i see the car at the front of the queue has no other cars in front of it, because the road bends, my vision is a bit obscured from seeing the front right side of that car, as ive gone past 3/4 of that car, ive realised that at the pedestrian refuge island, there is a mother and her child almost halfway across the car that has stopped, realising this ive tried to slow down as quick as i can but i had already gone a lot past them and only managed to completely slow down after.
Unfortunately, the car behind the car that had stopped for the parent and child, was an undercover ford estate. They have immediately turned the sirens and lights on and cut me off from the beginning after i was stationary. The officer from the passenger side jumped out to me and said i almost hit the child and the parent, i apologised to the officer, i tried getting some words in but he was furious and tried opening my door also. The driver of the car that had stopped jumped out also and was asking me what i was doing etc and in front of the officer said to me, 'Youre lucky they pulled you over otherwise i was gonna chase you down, drag you out and punch you up'. I did not say anything to make matters worse and was told by the officer to pull into the KFC parking lot next to the roundabout.
When we got there, i was asked for my license and i explained i didnt have it and the same officer said to me, 'Well you better get someone to effing bring it down here'. I said to him i may have a picture on my phone and showed him that, i repeatedly apologised about the situation, understanding what i had done however i was also trying to explain that because of the bend i was unable to even see the the head of the parent, i was confused as to why the driver stopped at the pedestrian island. The parent and her child came to get their details taken and the driver of the car who stopped was also there to be as a witness. I was also told me using the bus lane is a crime and counts as undertaking.
The officer had already started the ticketing process and was saying to me about the manner of my driving and i should be looking at a ban. The officer that was driving the undercover car approached me after taking the details from others, and said to me that i should deserve to get my license taken away, what i did could have killed the child etc. I stayed quiet as i was already shaken up from what happened and because of the aggressive threat i got from the other driver. The officer was at times close to my face when i was trying to explain and would shut me down.
I was told im being out down for a speeding offence, driving without due car and attention ( which i already have 3 points for since boxing day 2021) and driving without considerable reason to other road users. Some minutes after i was told the speeding offence is being dropped but the other two remain. After about 25-30minutes, i was told i would receive something in the post within 6 months. I forgot to ask for any information such as a ref number. I was further told that the incident was recorded on the bodycam, so if i decide to contest this later, that will be used and there could be 5-6 witnesses against me.
I understand i have not got anything solid to give here for a specific answer, however what i could i be looking at?
I work at a job which requires driving around and i have family members who do depend on me due to their health conditions. I have already been driving extra careful since i received the 3 points which i also i think have a year and a half left before they finish, so this is more stress.
Could i be looking at a ban due to the comments made by the officer of how my driving nearly killed a child?
Would they merge the two offenses as they are linked together in this case?
If it does end up going to court when i receive the charges back, would i need a solicitor for this?
I am attaching the map link below to help
https://goo.gl/maps/R5FaXnSvSCQThz9J8Thanks for the lengthy read and for any answers
