A FEISTY pensioner who led police on a go-slow pursuit on country roads said she had refused to stop because she feared she would miss a doctor's appointment.
Nadja Savin, 73, of Warrnambool, this week pleaded guilty to failing to stop when directed by police.
The Warrnambool Magistrates' Court heard Ms Savin was driving about 40km/h along the Princes Highway in Dennington, near Warrnambool, on May 22 with her hazard lights on and a stream of angry motorists trailing behind her.
The speed limit in the areais 80km/h.
A police officer tried twice to pull Ms Savin over but she refused to yield, forcing the officer to turn on the emergency lights and give pursuit for several kilometres.
But Ms Savin claims she was simply driving cautiously and using her hazard lights to warn other motorists to keep a safe distance.
"It's the law of the land in Australia to have three car lengths between cars, so when they (other motorists) got close I put the hazard lights on to get them to keep their distance," Ms Savin said.
"They kept beeping me but I wouldn't budge.
"I was going 40km/h because at first it was through a school zone, when it became 70km/h or 80km/h I kept going at 40km/h or below because you never know where children may be."
At one stage during the pursuit an officer persuaded Ms Savin to pull over to the side of the road, but the frail pensioner refused to wind down the window. Instead, she pointed to Port Fairy, her intended destination, and kept driving.
Ms Savin said she couldn't afford to stay and chat with the officer, as she was running late for a podiatry appointment.
"I was heading for an appointment with my podiatrist and I intended to keep it, my toe was very, very sore," she said.
"I knew if I was late I would miss it . . . I wasn't being difficult. I pointed to Port Fairy and told them I'd speak to them when I arrived."
Ms Savin then reversed her car past the police vehicle and continued on her way to her appointment.
"I made my appointment in the end, but when I came out they had put a clamp on my wheel and they were not very happy," she said.
A charge of failing to stop when directed by police was proved in Warrnambool Magistrates' court and dismissed, but her licence was suspended until she passes a VicRoads exam.
