MINING engineer, Wade Kathage pleaded guilty to driving without due consideration for other road users on the Peak Downs Highway on 23 May 2009.
Kathgate was assumed to be drink-driving when police pulled him over after receiving emergency phone calls from motorists concerned about their safety.
But when police examined Kathgate, the breath test showed he had a reading of zero. The authorities concluded the man was dangerously fatigued from working at three mines, doing 80 hours a week.
Solicitor Phillip Moore says Kathage has since done a defensive driving course and had reduced his working hours to about 60 hours a week at two mines. Moore says fatigue is an occupational hazard, which he acknowledges, and he's taking steps to ensure the public will be protected.
Kathage was fined $1200. No action was taken against his driver's licence.
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