newy.com.au – A teenage driver and a motorcyclist have had their P1 licences suspended after allegedly travelling at 203km/h and 198km/h in separate incidents on the M1 and Hunter Expressway.
Both incidents occurred in signposted 110km/h zones. The alleged speeds were more than 100km/h above the 90km/h limit applying to P1 licence holders.
Police said Newcastle Highway Patrol officers were conducting stationary speed checks on the M1 at Cameron Park about 8.40pm on Tuesday, 15 September, when they detected a Toyota 86 coupe allegedly travelling at 203km/h. Officers stopped the car a short time later, and the 17-year-old driver produced a P1 licence.
The teenager’s licence was suspended and he was issued a court attendance notice for exceeding the P1 speed limit by more than 45km/h and reckless or dangerous driving. He is due to face court in October.
In the second incident, Highway Patrol officers conducting stationary speed checks on the Hunter Expressway at Buchanan allegedly detected a Honda motorcycle travelling at 198km/h about 9.40am on Wednesday, 16 September.
The 23-year-old rider was stopped a short time later and produced a P1 licence. Police suspended his licence for six months and seized the motorcycle’s number plate.
He was also issued a traffic infringement notice for exceeding the P1 speed limit by more than 45km/h, which carries a $3135 penalty.
“Speed limits are in place to save lives, and police will continue to target dangerous driving behaviour across the Newcastle and Hunter region,” Newcastle-Hunter Sector Highway Patrol Chief Inspector Thomas Barnes said.
He said young and inexperienced drivers were over-represented in serious crashes and warned that the consequences of speeding could extend beyond fines and licence suspensions to families and the wider community.
