Teen Learner Driver Faces Court After Jesmond Traffic Incident

11 March 2025

newy.com.au – A 17-year-old learner driver is set to face court after a dramatic early morning incident in Newcastle, which saw him allegedly abandon a broken-down vehicle and fail multiple road safety requirements.

The incident unfolded around 7:05am on Tuesday, 11 March 2025, when police on patrol along Newcastle Road in Jesmond spotted a Ford Fairlane that had come to a stop in the middle of the busy roadway. As officers approached to assist, the driver and two passengers, aged 15 and 16, allegedly fled the scene on foot.

Police pursued and apprehended all three nearby, though the two passengers were released shortly after. Upon inspection of the vehicle and the circumstances surrounding the incident, authorities issued the teen driver with five infringement notices, including failing to carry a licence, not displaying L plates, driving without a supervising licenced driver, operating an unroadworthy vehicle, and failing to meet tyre safety standards.

A defect notice was issued for the vehicle, which was towed from the scene. The situation escalated further when the driver allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test. After being taken to Waratah Police Station, a secondary breath analysis reportedly showed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.143, well over the legal limit of 0 for a learner driver. Additionally, an oral fluid test allegedly indicated the presence of an illicit drug, with a secondary sample sent for further analysis.

As a result, the 17-year-old was issued a court attendance notice for driving with a mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA) and driving with both a mid-range PCA and an illicit drug in his system. His licence was immediately suspended, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, 1 May 2025.