KEY POINTS:
A West Coast woman whose driving was so erratic two other motorists used their vehicles to pull her over was yesterday sentenced to 60 hours' community work.
Sandra Christine Allan, 35, of Runanga, was also disqualified from driving for six months after she admitted a dangerous driving charge in Greymouth District Court.
Allan's driving was so bad on January 8 that other drivers removed her 7-year-old daughter from her car after forcing her to stop at a one-way bridge near Springfield, on the main Christchurch-West Coast road.
Shortly afterwards, Allan's car veered across the road and struck a boat-trailer being hauled by a car heading in the opposite direction.
Her car left the road and collided with a fence.
When police arrived, she said she had had a sneezing fit but later admitted to being under the influence of methadone.
Prosecutor Al Manco said police had received several complaints about Allan's erratic driving in the Arthurs Pass area.
Her car was repeatedly crossing the road's centre line and at bends as well as fluctuating in speed from fast to slow.
Allan's lawyer, Richard Bodle, said she had been affected by tiredness, not drugs, and had willingly handed over her daughter knowing it was the safest option.
She had stopped several times to clear her head but "soldiered on" to meet a medical appointment in Christchurch.
Allan had already suffered considerably as she lost her licence at the time of the offending and had not yet got it back.
An insurance company was also suing her for the substantial damage caused to the boat and trailer.
Judge Paul Kellar said he took those factors into account but Allan's had been an "appalling piece of driving".
"Not only did you endanger other road users but also the occupants of your car, including your daughter."
- NZPA
