Driver Banned After Ignoring Sofa on Soft-Top Warning
A motorist has been disqualified for a year after defying police warnings and driving with a sofa strapped to the soft roof of his convertible.
Sofa on Roof Sparks Dangerous Driving Charge
Matthew Dummer, 34, loaded a sofa and mattress onto the roof of his Renault coupe back in April 2021. PC Tom Van Der Wee from Sussex Roads Policing spotted the vehicle outside Dummer’s home in Stedham, West Sussex, and warned him against driving with the precarious load.
Ignoring the warning, Dummer was later spotted driving along the A286 in Singleton with the furniture still perched on the soft top.
Court Hits Driver with Disqualification and Unpaid Work
Dummer was charged with dangerous driving and sent a notice of intended prosecution. He took his case to Portsmouth Crown Court but was found guilty. On July 6, the court banned him from driving for 12 months, ordered 60 hours of unpaid work, and slapped on £95 court costs.
Police Warn of Serious Danger
“It should be obvious to any competent driver just how ridiculous it is carrying a load such as this on a soft top car,” said PC Van Der Wee.
“By forgoing all common sense and ignoring my warning, he put other road users at significant risk. If the load had come loose and hit a pedestrian, cyclist, or any other road user, we could have been dealing with a fatality.
“Dummer now must retake his driving test and will face higher insurance premiums as a result of this disqualification.”
