A TRUCKER has been fined £500 and handed nine points on his licence after admitting to careless driving on a motorway.

Terry Ackers, 63, pleaded guilty to the offence, which he committed while driving his lorry south on the M6 near Bradwall, Cheshire, between Junctions 18 and 16, on September 7 last year.

Chester Magistrates’ Court heard Ackers drove without due consideration for others when he committed the offence behind the wheel of his Volvo FH long haul heavy goods vehicle.

Ackers, of Shelley Gardens, Great Harwood, didn't turn up for his hearing on April 4 but gave a guilty plea to the solitary offence of driving a vehicle without due care and attention.

He was slapped with a £500 fine by magistrates and additionally had his licence endorsed with nine points, while also being ordered to pay court costs of £110 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £50.

Driving without due care and attention is defined in law as “allowing the standard of driving to fall below that of a competent and careful driver”.

It covers a range of behaviours, which include – according to the RAC – excessive speed or aggressive driving, carrying out other tasks while driving, driving while tired or unwell, driving contrary to medical advice and more.

This can range from everyday tasks like fiddling with the radio or sat nav, eating or drinking behind the wheel, or adjusting your seat, to much more serious and dangerous behaviour like tailgating, undertaking, lane hogging and driving aggressively.

Magistrates gave Ackers until May 2 to pay the total amount of £660 handed down to him.