Drew Matthew Partridge gets 2yr driving ban for Woombye road chaos
A young man’s road rage antics have earned him two years off the road after he was told his driving was a danger to others.
A former labourer has been told his driving is a “danger to our community” after he caused traffic chaos on a busy main road before giving the rude finger to another motorist.
Drew Matthew Partridge was taken off the road for two years for his deplorable driving, which caused other road users to take evasive action, Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday.
Acting Magistrate Raelene Ellis said the incident began on Nambour Connection Rd in the hinterland suburb of Woombye about midday on January 30, 2023.
Partridge was seen tailgating another motorist when he veered in front of them, which prompted them to heavily brake to avoid a collision.
Other vehicles were forced to veer around the 23-year-old who was blocking the lane ahead.
The vehicle that had to brake due to Partridge’s dangerous driving was unable to move forward for 10 seconds.
Ms Ellis said Partridge then travelled forward into a nearby lane and proceeded to give the driver “the finger”.
The court was told Partridge swerved into the same lane again, which forced another car to take evasive action to avoid side swiping him. They were forced to slow down to 40km/h.
Partridge then drove in excess of the speed limit as observed by other people and dashcam footage.
The court was told Partridge was already disqualified from driving two weeks earlier.
Ms Ellis said Partridge was not trying to hide “that he was breaking the law at all”.
Partridge also tested positive to marijuana while driving in the early hours of July 20 this year at Hemmant in Brisbane.
The 23-year-old was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving disqualified and drug driving. He pleaded guilty to all charges in court on Wednesday.
Defence lawyer Jamiee Burns said Partridge was not trying to avoid detection due to the age of the offences, and was unsure why he was not charged at the time as he spoke to police after the incident.
Legal arguments were heard over the fact the Kuluin man had been convicted on June 6, 2023 of identical charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle.
The lawyer said the labourer still had the benefit of youth due to the charge occurring when he was 21-years-old.
Ms Ellis reminded Partridge that driving a vehicle was a privilege and not a right.
“What comes with it is the responsibility to protect the life and liberty of other road users,” Ms Ellis said.
“It wouldn’t have taken much for an accident to occur in that awful demonstration of driving, and if someone had died you would have been spending years of your life in custody.”
She then read out several other minor traffic offences on Partridge’s history, and firmly stated his driving was a “danger to our community”.
Partridge was jailed for six months, which was immediately suspended for six months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay a $400 fine. Convictions were recorded.
