Mum cops nasty, abusive letter from neighbour after pulling out of driveway

A Sunshine Coast mother has copped disturbing written abuse for just pulling out of her driveway – and despite her pleas, council won’t help her.

A Sunshine Coast woman has been called a “rude c--t” for backing out of her driveway on a bend in a road where visibility is so poor she is forced to listen for oncoming traffic in order to avoid disaster.

Coolum Beach resident Raina O’Brien said she had lived on Toolga St since 2018 and had experienced many near misses with other vehicles when leaving her driveway over the years.

“We almost get cleaned up on a daily basis,” she said.

The Sunshine Coast Council has told the residents that if the use of their own driveways was “hazardous” they should park on the street.

The family’s home is near a bend in the road that reduces Ms O’Brien’s vision of oncoming traffic so much she said she has to wind down her window to listen for vehicles as she departs.

Ms O’Brien said her family, often with two children in tow, was subjected to other drivers yelling at them, “flipping the bird” and in some instances they were tailgated by other motorists forced to wait for them as they pulled out of their driveway.

Coolum Beach resident Raina O’Brien is scared of departing her driveway because a bend in the road makes it impossible for her to see oncoming traffic. Picture: Letea Cavander

The resident said she was particularly afraid of buses cutting that corner too.

However, on November 23, Ms O’Brien received a note that a man left on her vehicle that was parked on the street.

Neighbours Aaron Lello, Lauren Kertland, Raina O’Brien and Rich Schroder are all afraid of departing their driveways on Toolga St in Coolum Beach. Picture: Letea Cavander

The note stated that it was illegal to reverse out of a driveway and “also quite dangerous” when living “up from” a corner.

“You are a rude c--t,” the note stated.

Ms O’Brien said her husband would reverse into the driveway but that still exposed the driver’s side to oncoming traffic.

“It’s just as dangerous as backing out,” she said.

The note that Coolum Beach resident Raina O’Brien received.

“No matter what way we do it, we’re nearly getting hit by cars or abused, or getting really nasty letters.”

Neighbour Aaron Lello said trying to pull his boat out took time and because cars were “flying” around the bend they had to hit the brakes when they did see him.

Ms O’Brien said she had contacted the Sunshine Coast Council about installing a safety mirror to help her see around the bend and was told they were no longer issued.

She said the council had also told her speed bumps and slowing the speed along that stretch was not an option because it was a bus route.

“The council is putting it in the too hard basket,” Ms O’Brien said.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said convex mirrors were only considered appropriate in areas where the volume and speed of traffic was low.

“For example, they are used in underground car parks, warehouse facilities and narrow access lanes,” she said.

She said mirrors installed outside of these situations could pose a hazard to motorists and increase the risk of a crash.

“This is because the convex mirrors provide a warped perception of oncoming vehicle speeds and can increase the difficulty in identifying motor bike riders and cyclists,” the spokeswoman said.

“The mirrors can also have a detrimental impact to the driver’s vision by reflecting glare from the sun and headlights.”

The spokeswoman said council had completed a speed limit review of Toolga Street and it determined the appropriate speed limit was 60kmh.

“Traffic calming is not appropriate at this location as Toolga Street is a trunk collector road,” she said.

“These roads are intended to keep drivers moving between local and arterial roads by carrying traffic greater distances and at greater speeds, compared to local access streets where traffic calming is appropriate.”

The spokeswoman said council advised drivers to always exercise caution whenever entering the road from private property or a driveway on any given street.

“Motorists must give way to all pedestrians, bicycles and personal mobility riders on the footpath or road,” she said.

“They must also give way to all vehicles on the road they are entering.

“If reversing from a specific driveway is known to be hazardous, residents should utilise the available shoulder on Toolga Street to either park or ensure they can drive forward when entering the road.”