Ashley Bayliss, 21, of Narromine, was charged with negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm after she ploughed into a line of stationary cars at 50km/h.

Dubbo Local Court heard Bayliss thought cars brought to a stop by bitumen patching at Whylandra were still moving.

She slowed down but was travelling too fast to avoid a collision.

The driver in front suffered a severed spine, punctured lungs and five broken ribs. She is likely to remain a quadriplegic.

The court heard the victim's vehicle was pushed off the road by the force of the impact and came to a stop at the top of a small embankment.

Unable to move, the injured driver was extricated from the damaged vehicle by paramedics and rescue officers.

She was airlifted to Sydney for specialist treatment at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Police said the victim was unable to feel anything below the arms.

The court heard forensic experts examined the accident scene and the vehicle driven by Bayliss.

They found no evidence of any attempt to brake immediately prior to the collision.

Police said several signs were set up at the roadwork site prior to the collision.

Court documents said the signs were clear and free from obstruction.

The roadwork involved bitumen patching of the Mitchell Highway 12km west of Dubbo.

Vehicles moving in the area were under the control of a worker operating a stop/go sign.

The solicitor representing Bayliss described the 7.30am collision on August 31 last year as a very unfortunate accident.

"She was driving to Dubbo on her way to work at Netball NSW,'' the solicitor said.

"The sun was in her eyes but she wasn't running late or in a hurry.

"She saw a sign and was slowing down. She thought the vehicles in front of her were moving.''

The solicitor said at the time of the accident Bayliss had just ended a relationship. She had experienced medical issues and was waiting for the results of a biopsy.

"She was having difficulties at work with a new manager,'' the solicitor said.

"A great deal was happening. She had a lot on her mind.''

The solicitor said Bayliss suffered a broken rib in the collision and not long after lost her job at Netball NSW.

"She is deeply remorseful and very sad about the whole situation,'' the solicitor said.

"She just believed the cars were moving and got it wrong.

"She has to live with the ramifications of what happened.''

The court was told Bayliss had no criminal history and a clean traffic record.

Magistrate Andrew Eckhold said the matter was incredibly serious.

"There is a need for general deterrence,'' the magistrate said.

"Accidents of this type are often caused by young men who are 'pumped up' but this is a very different matter.

"You made a mistake that had big consequences.

"The accident defies logical explanation but it is not something you did deliberately.

"You have completed a traffic offender eduction program and were injured yourself.

"I believe any rational person would see a good behaviour bond as an appropriate alternative to a criminal conviction.''

The court was told the maximum sentence for negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm was nine months in jail.

"I am in no way diminishing the victim,'' Magistrate Eckhold said.

"But in this case I am considering dealing with the matter under dismissal.''

Bayliss was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond. A conviction was not recorded. A driving disqualification was not imposed.