Fast lane to disaster - driver's shocker

Police want to talk to the driver of this car photographed from another nearby vehicle as it broke all the overtaking rules. Photo / Supplied

Senior traffic police want to prosecute a "crazy" motorist snapped by another traveller overtaking a truck in wet conditions and with limited visibility on double yellow no-passing lines on the Napier-Taupo Rd.

Eastern district road policing manager Chris Wallace described the action as blatantly dangerous and said:

"Did you note the comments in yellow on the back of the truck? They say it all - 'Are you sure it's safe to overtake? Your family wants you home tonight.'

"It's one of the most heavily used roads into and out of Hawkes Bay.

"This photo highlights poor decision-making and the lack of responsibility of the driver of the car, who poses a risk to others on the road."

When two other Napier police traffic section officers saw the picture - snapped by a following motorist's passenger - they shook their heads.

When they noticed the message on the rear of the truck-and-trailer unit, they gave wry smiles, saying a "bit of a chat" to the driver would be in order.

"We would be very interested," one of the officers said after being told that the woman who took the shot had a clearer image which showed the car's registration plate.

The woman and her husband were driving towards Napier about a month ago when fog descended over State Highway 5 just after they crossed the Mohaka Bridge.

"I like to take photos out the window when my husband's driving," said the woman, who did not want to be identified.

"Then this scene came into the picture - we couldn't believe it ... I think my husband swore.

"It was quite dangerous - there was so much fog, and the truck wasn't really holding us up.

"We were quite happy to sit there. If something had happened we could have been wrapped up in it."

She said the car was travelling "pretty fast" when it passed them and the truck and trailer.

She contacted police, and was told to take her pictures to the nearest station.

Senior Constable Gerald Corkery of Napier said: "It is just impatience and tempting fate."

He said the car would have been on the wrong side of the road for up to 200 metres as it overtook the couple's car and the truck and trailer.

"They would have come across a passing lane soon. That's just crazy stuff."

- APN