South East Qld’s dangerous drivers of 2022: LIST
South East Queensland motorists are being urged to have safety “front of mind” as new data reveals the most dangerous local government areas for road and traffic-related offences. SEE THE LIST
Police & Courts
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South East Queensland motorists are being urged to have safety “front of mind” as new data reveals the most dangerous local government areas for road and traffic-related offences.
Despite having a population roughly half the size of Brisbane, the Gold Coast had the highest rate of traffic offences per capita in 2021 with 7431 offences per 100,000 residents, according to data compiled by Compare the Market.
These traffic-related offences, totalling almost 150,000 across SEQ’s LGAs, included unlicensed driving, drink and drug driving, exceeding the speed limit, disobeying a red light, driving without due care or dangerous driving.
Other ‘problem’ LGAs included Somerset, Noosa and Ipswich, which had high traffic offences compared to their smaller populations, though the rates of offences were much lower than Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said Queenslanders need to have safety “front of mind” when on the road.
“Whether it’s speeding, using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt, this dangerous behaviour has a serious danger and risk to those around you,” he said,
“Our latest mobile phone and seatbelt data shows that more than 51,000 people (November 1, 2021 to August 5, 2022) were caught driving distracted with their mobile phone, or not correctly wearing a seatbelt on the Gold Coast alone.
“We’re only asking for the minimum on safety – for drivers to follow longstanding, lifesaving safety rules when behind the wheel.”
Meanwhile, Compare the Market’s insurance expert Stephen Zeller said in some cases breaking road rules can “invalidate” car insurance policies.
“Driving under the influence not only puts yourself and other road users in danger, but doing so could risk voiding your insurance policy,” Mr Zeller said.
“Car insurance companies may reject claims where drivers were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or were driving when unlicensed or disqualified
“Not only could (breaking road rules) land you with a fine, you could lose that financial safety net insurance provides if these instances lead to an accident where you need to make a claim.”
SE QLD’S HIGH RANGE DRINK DRIVERS OF 2022
Conviction recorded
A mother-of-two narrowly escaped a mandatory prison sentence after shocked residents called in her latest high-range drink driving offence.
Shailer Park woman Rebecca Pacey, 47, was told “prison is not far off” when she appeared at Cleveland Magistrates Court in February 2022.
She pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor, driving without an interlock device and driving without a licence as a repeat offender.
The court heard concerned residents called police around 10.49pm on December 24 in 2021 when they observed Pacey swerving “all over the road” on Cleveland Redland Bay Rd in her Mazda.
A roadside test revealed she had a breath-alcohol content of 0.200 per cent, or four times over the legal limit.
It came on the back of a horror drink driving history.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta noted Pacey had previously received probation for like offending and was indeed very fortunate not to be locked up under mandatory sentencing.
The defendant was sentenced to two years’ probation and disqualified from driving for 16 months.
A conviction was recorded.
Conviction recorded
A serial high-range drink-driver was sent to jail in tears, with an angry Gold Coast magistrate saying she was putting “many” lives at risk and other road users had to be protected.
And Lisa Sherlock’s latest whopping blood alcohol reading of 0.33 per cent — more than six times the legal limit — wasn’t even her highest.
Sherlock, 53, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to her sixth drink-driving offence as well as disqualified driving.
Southport Magistrates Court heard the mum-of-two was on probation for her previous DUI offence just four months earlier when she lost control of her Nissan X-Trail on December 14 last year and crashed into a ditch, writing off the $30,000 vehicle.
She was taken by ambulance to Gold Coast University Hospital where she recorded the sky-high blood alcohol reading.
Sherlock denied having been drinking and told police she did not know how the crash happened but was aware she was disqualified from driving, the court was told.
Defence lawyer Blake Fraser, of Fraser Lawyers, told the court his client had been released from hospital only four days earlier after treatment for frequent fainting and dizziness.
He said she had ran out of medication and made the “foolish decision” to drive to the pharmacy to get more.
“Luckily no-one else was injured or no other vehicle involved,” Mr Fraser said.
“It was a serious example of drink-driving.”
Mr Fraser said Sherlock had been abusing alcohol since 1995 when she suffered “quite severe” domestic violence in a previous relationship.
Magistrate John Costanzo sentenced a crying and shell-shocked Sherlock to six months jail but ordered she be released on parole on September 17.
He also disqualified her from driving for a total of five years.
Conviction recorded
A man who sped away from police in Sunshine Beach before calling them to come and get him from a service station received a suspended prison sentence in a Noosa court.
Samuel John Dwyer, 20, of Sunrise Beach, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, high-range drink-driving, failing to stop and obstructing police.
The defendant appeared in the Noosa Magistrates Court on September 6.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist sentenced Dwyer to 18 months jail, wholly suspended for two years, for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
A conviction was recorded.
Police prosecutor Phillip Stephens said that on June 10, police were patrolling in Sunshine Beach when they noticed a BMW sedan travelling at a high speed.
Police met the defendant at Coolum Beach and gave him a breath test.
“He stated he’d consumed about 10 beers and at least five vodka and oranges that evening,” Sergeant Stephens said.
The defendant measured a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.158 per cent.
Mr Stjernqvist said he took into account the defendant’s plea of guilty to “serious” offences. He also fined Dwyer $1400 and disqualified him from driving for 14 months.
Conviction recorded
A mum who was almost five times over the legal limit when she crashed her car into a trailer and a parked vehicle, before hitting a tree, has faced a Noosa court.
Andrea Elizabeth Ainscow, 42, of Tewantin, cried as she told Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist that she was dealing with her mother’s battle with cancer and at risk of becoming homeless when she got behind the wheel on May 14.
Ainscow (inset) pleaded guilty in the Noosa Magistrates Court on September 6 to driving without due care and attention and high-range drink-driving.
Mr Stjernqvist fined her $1100 and disqualified her from driving for 11 months.
Police prosecutor Phillip Stephens said Ainscow had been drinking since 10am at a Noosaville pub when she drove to a friend’s house that evening and then got behind the wheel again.
Sergeant Stephens said the defendant was driving on Noosa Pde about 10.20pm with a passenger when she hit a boat trailer.
“The defendant’s vehicle then continued on and collided into the back of a parked Ford Ranger,” Sergeant Stephens said.
Ainscow then hit a tree on a nature strip.
She was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and tested about 1.15am, which resulted in a blood alcohol concentration of 0.225 per cent, the court heard.
Mr Stjernqvist said it was obvious there was a lot of remorse.
A conviction was recorded.
No conviction recorded
A drink driver who caused a head-on crash after getting behind the wheel following eight knock-off beers has been slammed by a magistrate for his “appalling” decision that saw a person injured in the crash.
Police were called to a two vehicle head-on crash on Toowoomba Athol Road at Westbrook about 10.10pm on June 4, 2022, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.
After arriving at the scene investigations revealed that a 2018 Ford Ranger ute, being driven by Christian Luke Dujela, had been travelling north when it drifted into oncoming traffic and collided with a car, police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Hutton said.
Dujela was taken by ambulance to Toowoomba Hospital, where the 25-year-old told police he was the driver of the ute, and about 12.40am a blood sample was taken to determine his blood alcohol concentration, which returned a reading of 0.164, more than three times the legal limit.
In court Dujela pleaded guilty to high range drink driving, which his solicitor Joe McConnell described as a “very serious offence”.
Dujela was fined $2000, referred to SPER, and disqualified from driving for nine months. A conviction was recorded.
Conviction recorded
A young Ipswich dad-to-be was sentenced after drinking more than 10 beers at a Christmas party before getting behind the wheel of a car and crashing into oncoming traffic.
Matthew Osborne, 24, appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday January 10 in 2022, where he pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence and driving without due care and attention.
The court heard the Bundamba man had spent all day drinking beers at a Christmas party before driving his gold Holden commodore down the wrong lane of Robertson Rd, Eastern Heights and colliding with another vehicle.
Police identified him as the driver and sole occupant of the car following the crash, which occurred about 10.40pm on December 10 last year.
Osborne was transported to Ipswich police station after providing a positive indication in a roadside test where he returned a final reading of 0.161 per cent.
Prosecution told the court his car caused “extensive damage” to the second vehicle in the crash.
His driver’s licence was immediately suspended.
Acting Magistrate Geoffrey Seaholme said he had taken into consideration the “significant money” Osborne would have to pay as a result of the crash, as well as the fact he had already spent a month “off the road”, when deciding an appropriate sentence.
Osborne was fined $1500 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for six months.
Convictions were recorded.
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