Drink driver’s ‘frightening’ near miss sparks calls for free road safety program for older drivers

A “stupid” decision to drive while drunk and a terrifying near miss has sparked a Coast woman’s mission to make road safety education programs free.

Debra Anstey is campaigning for free, government approved road safety education programs for drivers of all ages, especially mature drivers. Picture: Maddie Manwaring

A "stupid" decision to drive while drunk and a terrifying near miss has sparked a Coast woman's mission to make road safety education programs free and accessible for mature drivers.

Buderim's Debra Lee Anstey, 62, made the "irresponsible" decision to drive home after drinking on April 15.

Ms Anstey said she ended up confused and on the wrong side of the road, having narrowly missing an oncoming car while passing through roadworks on Old Maroochydore Road at Forest Glen about 10pm.

She said police later found her pulled over on the side of the road.

She faces charges of driving under the influence and dangerous operation of a vehicle while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

Ms Anstey pleaded guilty earlier this month and will appear in court again on June 8 for sentencing.

Ms Anstey said the events of that night had been life changing and inspired her to educate herself on road safety to avoid being in that position again.

"It would have been one thing if I had killed myself but if I had killed somebody else that's unforgivable," she said.

She found the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program online and paid $295 to complete the three day course.

She said it was incredibly eye-opening.

Debra Anstey is campaigning for government approved, free road safety education for drivers of all ages. Picture: Maddie Manwaring

"I was shocked, I frightened myself," she said.

"So I went online, I googled courses and I find this one and it was court approved.

She said she was amazed as she went through it by all the things she didn't know.

"Seeing the victim impact statements was really moving and very eye-opening for me, I cried through the whole lot of them, I just cried and cried, it was awful."

Now Ms Anstey has started a petition to make free, comprehensive courses like the offenders program available to drivers of all ages, but especially matured-aged drivers.

She said her generation and older drivers didn't have the benefit of road and driving education courses in school and weren't exposed to the dangers of driving while drunk or inattentive when learning to drive.

"It is the older road users who would benefit from a free road safety program, one where they get to see the statistics, penalties and the statements from crash victims first hand," she said.

"I got my licence when I was 17 now I'm 62, think about that, (so much) has changed.

She said it was an eye-opener but had to pay nearly $300 for the privilege.

"It's not something that your average person would voluntarily (pay to) do without having got the shock I got.

"It was stupid but I was very caught up in emotions at the time and in (the program) they actually bring up that driving in a high emotive state is problematic as well.

She said there were many things in the program which she said many people could do without knowing or realising it was dangerous.

"Like being fatigued is equivalent to having a 0.05 blood alcohol concentration, or texting while driving means you're about 24 per cent more likely to crash, that's like a one in four chance you will crash."

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Ms Anstey said programs like the one she had completed were costly and available for offenders but said there needed to be a focus on free, government-approved programs aimed at preventing drivers from becoming offenders.

She hoped such a program would also include personal stories from victims or offenders to make drivers think twice before getting behind the wheel while drunk, emotional, fatigued or distracted.

"My offending came about from a stupid, irresponsible reaction to some very heavy life changes but I really feel that if I'd have seen those impact statements and known what I know now I might have thought twice about it," she said.

"That's why I want to try and do something, I really do believe if people saw a course and it was free, it was online and easily accessible people would think twice."

She said she hated the fact she was outing herself because she was scared of telling people what she had done.

"But it's worth it if it saves somebody," she said.

"It's so valuable and I'm happy to give this as much time as it needs."

To learn more or sign Ms Anstey's petition click here.

UPDATE:

Anstey was sentenced in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 8.

She was disqualified from driving for 18 months and was given a prison sentence of one year to be wholly suspended for two years. 

She was also fined $800.

Originally published as Drink driver’s ‘frightening’ near miss sparks calls for free road safety program for older drivers