Police bag low flying speedsters

Photo / Martin Sykes

Police in Waikato say "low-flying" speeding drivers are accidents waiting to happen.

Over the weekend, three motorists, all under 25, were caught speeding, one doing nearly 190km/h in a 100km/h zone.

Acting Waikato road policing chief Senior Sergeant Jeff Penno said police were alarmed at the disregard for the law, public safety and court-imposed sanctions drivers showed.

First, an 18-year-old engineer was clocked driving over the brow of a hill on Hamilton's southern outskirts at 152km/h. That section had an 85km/h advisory.

Mr Penno said the driver had appeared in court the day before on a charge of unnecessary exhibition of speed.

"The driver said he was out testing his car because it had a fault and went so far as to blame police as the reason he would lose his job."

The driver was charged with dangerous driving.

Then about 10.30pm a car travelling south towards Huntly was clocked at 181km/h. Police chased the 20-year-old driver but he refused to stop and the chase was called off.

He continued to drive at 160km/h, often on the wrong side of the road. He crashed and was found near his car.

He was over the legal breath-alcohol limit and was charged with reckless driving, failing to stop, excess breath alcohol and driving while disqualified.

In the third incident, a vehicle was being handled "like a low-flying aircraft" between Hamilton and Morrinsville by a 24-year-old driver. Police said the car was recorded travelling at 173km/h in an 80km/h zone.

Mr Penno said two of the drivers had recently been in court for similar offending.

- NZPA