Bus driver describes avoiding PM's motorcade

A bus driver transporting high school students had to pull his vehicle to the roadside to avoid colliding with the Prime Minister's speeding motorcade, a court has heard.

"I had to move away from the normal road space I would occupy. It was very much a lurch action," Ian Reddell told the Timaru District Court.

Mr Reddell was testifying on the second day of the trial of five police officers and a civilian driver who are accused of a range of dangerous or careless driving charges while involved in the motorcade on July 17 last year.

It is alleged the motorcade travelled at speeds up to 172km/h during the 205km journey from Waimate to Christchurch in order for Prime Minister Helen Clark to catch a flight to Wellington.

Mr Reddell told the court he estimated the speed of the motorcade at between 145km/h and 160km/h when he moved to avoid it near the mid-Canterbury township of Hinds.

The trial before Judge John Strettell is expected to last about two weeks.