I agree, a P Plater would have probably lost enough demerit points to lose his/her licence. Just as you say being a non p plater the whole article is played down.
Maybe she got such a shock (ala driving Miss Daisy) she won't get behind the wheel again.
A few years ago an old lady did a similar thing to my Company Car, I wasn't driving at the time one of my staff was using it. At the scene she was so distraught that she asked the Police to cancel her licence on the spot. A few weeks later I spoke to a family member regarding the claim and was told that she refused to drive again and had cut up her licence.