P-plate road-rager picks wrong target when he abuses an off-duty police traffic boss

A P-PLATE driver targeted the wrong victim when he abused the Gold Coast’s top traffic cop during a bizarre road-rage incident.

A P-PLATE driver targeted the wrong victim when he abused the Gold Coast’s top traffic cop during a bizarre road-rage incident yesterday morning.

Road policing boss Senior Sergeant Bradyn Murphy was tailgated and abused by a 23-year-old man driving his mother’s car in Bermuda St yesterday morning.

The city’s top ranked traffic officer was on his way to the traffic office at Robina about 8.30am.

He was travelling at the 80km/h speed limit in steady traffic as the P-plater driving a red Hyundai approached from behind.

“I was travelling at the speed limit when this car came up behind me,’’ he said. “He was driving like an ­absolute idiot.

“I noticed he was driving aggressively through the traffic, tailgating other drivers and forcing people out of the right-hand lane.

“He was abusing drivers as he drove past, giving them the finger.”

Snr Sgt Bradyn Murphy at Robina Police Station.

The driver roared up behind Sen-Sgt Murphy’s car, narrowly avoiding a collision.

“He was right up behind me — he almost hit the back of my car.

“Before I had a chance to change lanes he swerved into the left-hand lane, almost losing control and took off at speed.

“I’d guess it was over 100km/h.”

The P-plater then stopped at the Cottesloe Drive intersection, hanging back in the traffic to challenge Sen-Sgt Murphy to pull over.

“That’s when I pulled out my badge and identified myself as a police officer,’’ he said.

“I instructed him to pull over, which he ignored and then he tried to pretend I wasn’t there.”

The P-plater disappeared in traffic in a bid to escape.

Sen-Sgt Murphy left messages for the 23-year-old’s mother and has tried repeatedly to contact the driver, who will now be hit with a swag of driving charges.

Sen-Sgt Murphy urged the driver to hand himself in.

“There is no excuse for that behaviour on the roads,” he said.

“Other drivers would have been frightened, clearly intimidated by his aggressive manner of driving.

“It won’t be tolerated. He’s about to learn a big lesson.”

Drivers who saw the incident or were victims were urged to contact the traffic office on 56 569 165.

Police have also appealed to the driver of a white van who photographed the incident to come forward.