Drivers clocked at 150km/h in 50 zone

The long arm of the law will be knocking on the door of two "idiots" caught racing at 150km/h in a 50km/h zone in Whangarei.

The pair were caught on a speed camera in a 50km/h zone on Riverside Dr, Whangarei, and appeared to have been racing, Northland road policing and operations manager Inspector Rob Lindsay said.

The pair would be investigated by police due to the high speeds and were likely to have police visit them soon.

One had been snapped travelling at 152km/h and the other at 154km/h just before Christmas.

Last Sunday, a speed camera photographed another driver who was travelling at 148km/h on a State Highway 1 100km/h stretch near Hikurangi.

A nearby Highway Patrol officer stopped the vehicle and breathtested the driver who blew 1009 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath -- more than twice the legal limit for adults of 400 mcg.

The high speed examples had been the exception to the rule.

Mr Lindsay said the steady stream of holidaymakers travelling north had led to traffic only travelling at 70km/h to 80km/h on SH1.

"We haven't had too many reports of impatience but people do seem to be biting at the bit."

The combination of showers and wind had also led to smaller prangs and some vehicles running off the road throughout the region.

"The general impression out there is that people are travelling a bit fast for the conditions," he said.

Mr Lindsay said December's national road toll was already running 10 ahead of last year's toll, and police were hoping to "hold out to the end of the year" with no more deaths.

Northland has recorded one road fatality in the Christmas period so far, after a baby was killed when she was behind a van reversing onto the road at Whangaruru on Monday. The death brings the region's road toll to 30.

Thirty-two people died on Northland roads last year.

 

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)