Clark refuses to criticise GG's driver for speeding

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she would not criticise the Governor-General's driver, who was caught speeding at 130km/h, because he was overtaking.

The Prime Minister's comments, in an interview with Paul Holmes on Newstalk ZB, come a day after Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven said critics should "not be too prissy" over official drivers travelling at excessive speeds.

Dame Silvia Cartwright's driver was ticketed last weekend after he was caught doing about 130km/h while overtaking on a passing lane on the Kapiti Coast.

"You would know yourself when you are trying to overtake someone who is pottering along at 95 you probably will go over the 100km/h speed limit," Helen Clark said.

"So I'm not going to get into criticising the driver."

Asked if VIPs had a special right to be driven at a greater speed than normal people, Helen Clark said she understood urgent business was provided for in regulations.

Havelock man Tim Marshall yesterday told the Herald that three years ago he was involved in a similar speeding incident with the Governor-General's official car.

Mr Marshall, a former policeman and ambulance officer, said he was travelling to Blenheim airport when the vice-regal car "wooshed" past him.

"Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to follow, but at 130km/h they were still pulling away and so I gave up the chase."

Mr Marshall said when he finally caught up with Dame Silvia at the airport he asked her why she had been travelling so fast, she said she was late for her plane.

A spokesman for the Governor-General last night said they had no knowledge of such an incident.