'Lack of attention' leads to collision after driver fails to give way

Jade Ann Marshall, 23, of Goulburn, pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. She appeared before Goulburn Local Court on June 15.

Magistrate Geraldine Beattie told the court the offence occurred when Marshall drove down Coromandel Street, Goulburn, and did not give way at the intersection of Combermere Street.

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She said this caused a "significant collision" with another vehicle. She told the court the other driver was taken to hospital, and underwent surgery with screws placed in his ankles.

Magistrate Beattie said the victim still experienced a "stinging sensation".

"Injuries like that as you age become aggravated, all because you didn't give way," she said.

"It is your responsibility as a driver to look out on the road.

"You had a lack of attention to your surroundings, with the poor driver paying the price for that."

Solicitor Jack Reid said his client instructed she could not see the line on the road, the give way sign was high and she assumed the street was laid out the same as the next street across, which had no give way signs.

"While this doesn't excuse, it does reduce the objective seriousness," Mr Reid said.

He told the court Marshall had attended to the victim at the scene and then visited hospital multiple times to see him.

Mr Reid said Marshall was "very remorseful [and] accepted she needs to pay much more attention when on the road".

He argued his client was a "person of good character" who would be "significantly impacted" by a loss of licence.

Magistrate Beattie said the maximum penalty for the charge was nine-months imprisonment.

Marshall was convicted, fined $1200, sentenced to a nine-month Community Corrections Order, and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

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