Driver fined after head-on collision when he overtook truck on continuous white line

Judge reduces charge from dangerous driving to careless driving after collision near Bandon

Kinsale District Court heard that both vehicles were extensively damaged and had to be towed from the scene and that the driver of the other car suffered back and neck injuries.

A driver who overtook a slow-moving refuse truck on a continuous white line before colliding head-on with an oncoming car has been fined €1,000.

Gabor Banfi, aged 45, of Market Quay, Bandon, was charged with dangerous driving arising from the collision at Knockbrown, Bandon, at 5.45am on September 14, 2025.

Kinsale District Court heard Banfi was on his way to work in Timoleague when he came upon the refuse truck and attempted to overtake it. He crossed a solid white line and collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction.

The other driver suffered back and neck injuries. Both vehicles were extensively damaged and had to be towed from the scene. Banfi passed drug and alcohol tests at the scene, the court heard.

Defence solicitor Éamonn Fleming said Banfi, originally from Hungary, had been in Ireland for 12 years. He said Banfi had been late for work and made an error of judgment. He provided a strong reference from Banfi’s employer.

He said a dangerous driving conviction would likely cost his client his job and asked that the charge be reduced to careless driving.

Judge Joanne Carroll described it as a very serious case of bad driving but noted that Banfi had no previous road traffic convictions, and his guilty plea. She reduced the charge to careless driving, convicted Banfi and fined him €1,000.

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