An Australian man went viral this week after claiming he was fined for cooking a steak while driving in Queensland, but the truth is far more tame.
Influencer Jackson O’Doherty posted on Instagram claiming he had received a $1033 fine, complete with an infringement notice letter from Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
The infringement notice included two images of Mr O’Doherty performing the alleged act, as well as the description of the offence: “Driving use frying pan handheld/resting on body”.
Some commenters asked where Queensland’s road laws state that cooking while driving is an offence, however the truth soon came to light.
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As with many things on the internet, Mr O’Doherty’s infringement notice was fake, though that hasn’t stopped the transport department from discouraging potential copycats.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads is aware of a fake infringement notice circulating on social media showing a man cooking a steak while driving,” a spokesperson told CarExpert.
“While the post is a stunt, the issue of driver distraction and dangerous driving is very real and the behaviour depicted [is] incredibly dangerous. Road safety is no joke.
“A driver caught cooking while driving would face significant penalties. Depending on the circumstances, this could range from a careless driving infringement with a $645 fine and 3 demerit points, up to a court date for dangerous operation of a vehicle with a maximum penalty of more than $30,000 or 3 years jail.
“In 2024, 302 people lost their lives on Queensland Roads, the highest in 15 years. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. One life lost on our roads is one too many.”
