Stuff.co.nz: Extreme speeds shock police

**Bend-it** · 16th September 2009, 11:43

Extreme speeds shock police
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2868...s-shock-police

Police are shocked by the "phenomenal" levels of speed on Canterbury roads.

Two teenage drivers had their licences suspended on the spot last week after being caught at speeds of 152kmh and 153kmh on Christchurch's northern motorway.

One driver, aged 17, had friends in the car. Both teenagers will face charges of driving at a dangerous speed.

Police had recently prosecuted motorcyclists between Tai Tapu and Akaroa for travelling at speeds of 180kmh, 190kmh and 212kmh, said the Christchurch road policing manager, Inspector Al Stewart.

Over a recent seven-day period, 152 drivers were caught for exceeding the 100kmh speed limit on the northern motorway.

"Far too many Canterbury drivers still do not appreciate the consequences of speeding or not driving to the conditions," Stewart said. "For example, increasing your speed from 100kmh to 120kmh doubles your risk of a fatal crash.

"The speeds we're detecting in Canterbury are just phenomenal."

In the year to June there were 45,565 speeding notices issued in Canterbury, with 10,945 issued to the 15 to 24 age group. Male drivers aged 15 to 24 received 19.5 per cent of the total number of notices issued in Canterbury over the same period. Last year, speed was a factor in 34 per cent of fatal crashes nationally and 20 per cent of serious-injury crashes.

"That equates to 127 people dying, 560 being seriously injured and 2049 receiving minor injuries, with a social cost of $867 million," Stewart said.

Fifty-nine people aged under 20 have died on roads this year

**Bend-it** · 16th September 2009, 11:43

So... who was it... own up now...

Cantabrians eh? tsk tsk tsk...

**SVboy** · 16th September 2009, 11:52

There but for the grace of god, go I!!!!

**breakaway** · 16th September 2009, 12:16

These guys are right. I exceeded the speed limit once, and died. Twice.

**steve_t** · 16th September 2009, 12:21

212 km/h, how did they catch them??

**Morcs** · 16th September 2009, 12:22

150k is hardly extreme speed... lol

id clock more than that at 5pm on an auckland motorway... lol

**scumdog** · 16th September 2009, 12:30

You CAN notice a general speed increase as you enter Canterbury - more so as you near Christchurch.

**SVboy** · 16th September 2009, 12:34

I wish YOU were one of the Akkers/Tai Tapu officers Scummy. At least then we could talk bikes as you wrote out those tickets/asked for the keys etc!!

**JimO** · 16th September 2009, 12:38

Originally Posted by scumdog

You CAN notice a general speed increase as you enter Canterbury - more so as you near Christchurch.

that will be because of the long boring straights

**Cosmo** · 16th September 2009, 12:41

Originally Posted by scumdog

You CAN notice a general speed increase as you enter Canterbury - more so as you near Christchurch.

I would have thought you would notice an increase of speed as you head out of Christchurch/Canterbury. Everyone wanting to get out of there.

**SVboy** · 16th September 2009, 12:47

LOL! Attempted put downs from people who try to exist in Dunny and Incestacargill! Like those comments carry the impact of a butterflys fart!!

**vifferman** · 16th September 2009, 12:48

As #2Son would say, "waah".

This is the same place that has very long, straight, flat, wide, roads, with mostly very little traffic, and has speed cameras and police with lasers, in case someone goes over 100km/h?

It's really about time there was a wider range of speed limits. Some highways are dangerous at 90 (unless you're a decent driver, with decent skills, who pays attention, and thinks). Others like the motorways outside of peak traffic time, and the Canterbury Plains, have woefully pathetic speed limits. The motorways should really be like the freeways outside Seedneee, where the speed signs are electronic, and vary according to conditions.

**Subike** · 16th September 2009, 12:55

Speeding in Cant is rampent.
I travel SH1 daily from Gretta Valley to Amberley for work in my desiel cage.
sure just 30k each way so what?
I sit on 105kph, at 106 my ding ding ding in my truck gets agitated and annoys me.
I get passed by 99% of other road users, the 1 % that dont pass me are cyclists.
It is no wonder that there are two traffic cars constantly on this strip of road, constantly handing out tickets.
The crazy part for me is that the speed gets you nowhere faster, as heading north you encounter hills, and slow big riggs, heading south you get traffic density and slow traffic flows.
At 100kph in my cage I get there in the same time as the speedsters, with less fuel usage.
Now if I was on my bike, well.......no ticket in 5 years, so either I am a nana rider or just have not been caught yet. You decide that.

**SVboy** · 16th September 2009, 13:02

The article refers in part to the Tai tapu-Akaroa road, which is a wonderful and varied road, with a variety of corners, straights, hills and surfaces. The speed limit is probably quite justified, unfortunately the temptation to go "just a little" over the limit is strong. Agree with you though Vman about higher limits on the straights. Dont know if the majority of sheaple could cope with such a radical concept!