By VANESSA CHIRCOP
A HOON driver was caught at more than 70 kilometres over the speed limit in Hobsons Bay, according to Victoria Police.
More than 200 drivers in Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, Melton and Maribyrnong have had their vehicles impounded in the first half of the year, with 32 of the 207 nabbed in Hobsons Bay.
Former Highway Patrol Unit Sergeant Jason Van Doren said 43 per cent of vehicles in the municipality were impounded for excessive speeds of more than 45 kilometres over the speed limit but was shocked by one particular case.
“The shocking thing is we’ve caught at least one person driving at an excessive speed of more than 70 kilometres over the speed limit,” he said.
Nine out of the 32 drivers had their vehicles impounded for driving while disqualified and five drivers were nabbed for careless and improper driving.
“Out of the 32, low and behold, 30 are male drivers,” Sgt Van Doren said.
“Out of the 32, 12 were probationary drivers.”
Sgt Van Doren said the perception that all hoons are P-platers was not always the case, with more and more older drivers being busted for poor driving behaviour.
“We have a situation where P-plate drivers are restricted in the types of vehicles they can drive, they can’t drive V8s and turbos – perhaps when they are on their full licence and they are in a position where they can purchase one of those vehicles, that’s when we’re catching them,” he said.
The City of Wyndham had 83 vehicles impounded in the first six months of the year, Melton had 66 and Maribyrnong had 26.
In May this year, police intercepted a motorcyclist on Grieve Pde Altona North travelling 58 kilometres over the speed limit.
“He was only one or two kilometres from home,” Sgt Van Doren said.
“That’s in a truck route area, I’m tipping that if we had any trucks around and there was any interaction between him and a truck – I’m not a betting man, but I reckon I can give you 100 per cent odds the truck is going to win.
“He was 34-years-old – he should have known better.”
On 7 April a driver was detected driving at 143 kilometres per hour in an 80 zone.
“Just to add more fuel to the fire, his breath alcohol reading was .124.”
Sgt Van Doren said there is no excuse for hooning – and he’s heard them all from drivers claiming to be busting to go the toilet to rushing because they’re running out of petrol.
“They’re looking for the excuse that’s going to work and guess what? There isn’t one,” he said.
“I don’t give warnings – you had a chance to not get a ticket and that was lifting your foot off the pedal.”
