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Just the job for gesticulating Jock

The excellent prices offered by specialist young driver car insurance firms won’t be enough to save the pennies of a Scottish youngster after he was banned for driving for making hand gestures at a speed camera.

21-year-old Sean Toehill from Fife was convicted of dangerous driving and banned for a year at Cupar Sheriff Court on Monday after taking both hands off the wheel to make ‘peace signs’ at the camera.

The oilrig worker was not exceeding the speed limit when he was photographed, but police decided to prosecute because he looked away from the road and leaned across the car.

Chief Inspector Swanston of Fife’s road policing unit justified the seemingly ridiculous punishment by saying, “This young driver was clearly showing off to his friends when he chose to put himself, his four passengers and other road users at risk by taking his hands off the wheel.”

As a result of his ban, Toehill will have to re-take his driving test in 12 months and will be unlikely to find a cheap car insurance deal as the conviction will stay on his record. A driver of Sean’s age without any convictions would normally have no problems in finding a low price from a company that deals specifically in young driver car insurance, but when he reapplies to drive in a year his premium is likely to have rocketed.

Members of the community have labelled the punishment as absurd, and the hard-done-by Scot has promised to challenge the decision. “I couldn’t believe it. There’s a lot worse stuff on the roads. I will be speaking to my lawyer about an appeal.”