WA highway patrol: distracted Geraldton driver listening to audio book oblivious to police car lights and siren for 15 kilometres

A distracted Geraldton driver listening to an audio book allegedly crossed a solid white line on a highway five times and failed to notice the sirens and lights of a tailing police car for 15 kilometres.

The incident happened on the Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road about 11am on Monday, near Wicherina South Road, Eradu.

Sergeant Chris Martin, officer-in-charge at Mullewa Police Station, said the driver was lucky to avoid a serious accident, considering the amount of traffic on the road at the time, which included road trains.

Sgt Martin said the man, aged in his 40s, told police he could not hear the police sirens because he was listening to an audio book.

“I told him that it is just not acceptable,” Sgt Martin said.

“Crossing solid white lines five times is obvious an issue of inattention, which I take exemption to.”

“Solid lines are there for a reason, having been identified by Main Roads as locations that are not safe for motorists to pass.”

Sgt Martin said the man was the sole occupant in the car.

He was fined $300 and given three demerit points for careless driving, and fined $150 and given three demerit points for crossing continuous white lines.