A Waubra woman who failed to slow to 40km/h when passing a stationary police vehicle, causing a collision, along the Western Highway has faced court.
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The woman, who The Courier has chosen not to name because she avoided a conviction, was driving west along the Western Highway at Ballan on June 23.
Police received reports of the woman's Holden Captiva slowing down and speeding up, almost causing accidents, as she drove home from Melbourne after a night out.
The Ballarat Magistrates Court was told the woman was travelling between 100 and 110km/h when she passed a Moorabool Highway Patrol vehicle, which was stationary with flashing lights.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steven Repac said the accused saw the victim's vehicle travelling at a slower speed and she failed to adjust her speed to 40km/h.
The woman collided with the other vehicle, causing it to spin out of control and hit a barrier.
The court was told the airbag was deployed in the accused's vehicle, while both vehicles were written-off and had to be towed from the scene.
The woman told police she was tired and she did not know she was required to slow to 40km/h when passing a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights.
Magistrate Barry Schultz said the woman's driving on the day of the incident was not deliberate and the 40km/h rule was fairly new.
The woman, who pleaded guilty to careless driving on Thursday, was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction. She was ordered to donate $250 to The Alfred hospital trauma department.
The rule requiring drivers to slow to 40km/h when passing a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights was introduced in July 2017.
In a separate court case on Thursday, a Ballarat man was caught riding an unregistered motorbike without a motorbike licence while under the influence of drugs.
Police intercepted Darryl McHarg on Victoria Street on July 28 riding the Yamaha motorcycle.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Steven Repac said McHarg's driver's licence had been suspended due to a medical review and he wasn't licenced to hold a motorbike licence.
He said McHarg underwent a preliminary breath test, which came back negative, but a preliminary oral fluid test showed the presence of an illicit drug.
A second test and analysis showed he had used methylamphetamine. McHarg's motorbike was impounded for 30 days.
Defence lawyer Jon Irwin said his client had been sentenced to three months' imprisonment, floowed by an 18-month community correction order, in October. His driver's licence was suspended for four years.
Mr Irwin said the motorbike incident could have been dealt with in October.
Magistrate Barry Schultz agreed and discharged the charges, with conviction. He disqualified McHarg from driving for the mandatory six months for drug-driving, which will run concurrently with his other licence disqualification.
McHarg pleaded guilty drug-driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving while suspended.