Woman banned from driving after turning on Classic FM and falling asleep

Rosemary Bryant made the 'mistake' of switching over from Radio 4, prosecutor says

Rosemary Bryant leaving Carlisle Crown Court on 9 October (Craig McGlasson )

A sleepy motorist nodded off at the wheel and crashed her car after switching over from Radio 4 to Classic FM, a court heard.

Rosemary Bryant collided with a road sign after her Vauxhall Corsa veered across the A595 at Mealsgate in Cumbria.

Prosecuting, Beccy McGregor told Carlisle Crown Court that Bryant had completed a five or six-mile, five-hour walk around Derwentwater in the Lake District before heading home.

After the crash she called 999 to report it, Ms McGregor said, adding that she had been “very co-operative”, telling the operator that she had “swerved across the road” and hit a sign after falling asleep.

Her car was a write-off and although no other vehicles were involved, members of the public had stopped to help.

Bryant admitted that she had struggled to stay awake that day “since she woke up”. After her walk, she had eaten some food before starting her journey.

“She had put the windows down and put Radio 4 on,” said Ms McGregor. “She realised she was tired and this would allow her to concentrate, keep her alert while driving.”

But having decided against stopping for a coffee and having joined the A595, she put up the windows and made the “mistake” of switching to Classic FM, she added.

“She describes she knows Classic FM is the type of music that would normally send her to sleep,” she said.

She fell asleep for “one to two seconds”, before being jolted awake by a “30mph” impact.

Mark Shepherd, defending, said the impact of a mandatory driving ban would be “significant”. Bryant had been of “totally unblemished character”, and received only three penalty points in 26 years, he said.

Mr Shepherd said she had been training to be a deacon, but conceded: “This will come to an end now.”

Bryant admitted a dangerous driving charge, and was sentenced to 80 hours’ unpaid work. She was also banned from driving for a year, and ordered to take an extended test.

Judge Peter Hughes QC told Bryant, of Sunnyside, Port Carlisle: “You could so easily have crossed the road into the path of oncoming cars, and the consequences could have been horrendous – not just for you personally but for any occupants of the car that collided with you.”