WADL Case Summary – Careless Driving and Failure to Exchange Details

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The Court: Ringwood Magistrates’ Court
The Date: January 2026

1. Road Safety Act 61 (1) (c) – Where owing to the presence of such motor vehicle where property was damaged, did fail at the scene to exchange details including name and address.
2. Road Safety Act 7 (1) (a) – Drive a motor vehicle whilst that motor vehicle was not registered as per the Road Safety Act
3. Road Safety Act 65 -Drive carelessly

1. Imprisonment of up to 14 days
2. A fine of up of $1017.55

1. A fine of up to $5087.75

1. A fine of up to $2442.12
2. Licence Loss at Magistrates’ Discretion

Our client was driving along Maroondah Highway in Healesville when he briefly fell asleep and collided with the rear of a parked vehicle outside the owner’s home.

Feeling panicked after the crash, he drove away without exchanging details. Police later spoke with him, and he admitted he was the driver.

He has since cooperated with the home owner and contributed money towards repairing the damage to the victim’s vehicle.

Police also found the vehicle was unregistered at the time of the incident under the Road Safety Act. Our client was in the process of arranging registration before the collision occurred.

Our client received a same-day diversion, which meant there was no impact on his driver’s licence and no financial penalty in the form of a fine. Instead, he was required to contribute to the Amber Community Trauma Awareness Program as part of the diversion conditions.

He was very pleased with this outcome, as it allowed him to avoid any lasting consequences associated with a conviction or licence infringement. Importantly, it enabled him to continue attending his new place of employment without interruption, maintaining a stable and sustainable income from his recently secured job.