Drivers clocked at extreme speeds will now lose their licence instantly under strict new laws to stamp out hoons
- SA drivers will instantly lose their licence if caught in ‘extreme speeding’
- Drivers 55km/h above the limit in a zone 60 or less will be banned for two years
- In a zone marked over 60, same penalties apply for speeding 80km/h over limit
- If caught a second time speeding the licence disqualification rises to five years
South Australians have been warned to lay off the accelerator or risk losing their licence on the spot.
Laws now in effect mean lead-foots caught driving at ‘extreme speeds’ – 55km/h or more above the limit in a zone marked 60 or less – will immediately lose their right to drive for two years.
If convicted offenders can also be jailed for up to three years.
In a zone marked over 60km/h, driving at 80km/h or more above the limit also causes mandatory licence disqualification.
For a second such offence on either charge, serial speedsters will be banned from driving for five years and face five years jail.
South Australian drivers have been put on notice that being caught doing ‘extreme speeds’ will cause an instant two-year loss of licence
The penalties also apply to those causing death by using a motor vehicle.
Police said the harsh penalties will make people think twice about driving at reckless speeds.
‘These penalties send a strong message to people who choose to threaten the safety of other innocent members of the community by driving at extreme speed,’ Traffic Services Superintendent Bob Gray said.
‘Driving in a way that endangers lives is a criminal act and will be treated as such by police.’
There have already been two people caught extreme speeding since the laws came into effect this weekend.
On Sunday night a 17-year-old was arrested after allegedly driving at speeds of up to 200km/h.
Extreme speeding means exceeding a limit under 60km/hr by 55km/hr or exceeding a limit over 60kh/hr by 80km/hr
Police attempted to stop a Ford sedan after it was detected speeding near Adelaide’s CBD and northern suburbs but the teen sped off before being intercepted on Adelaide’s outskirts.
A police helicopter tracked the teen’s car and officers spiked the tyres.
The driver and four others abandoned the car before being detained by police at the scene.
The teen was charged with aggravated extreme speeding, failing to stop, driving dangerously to escape police pursuit and driving while suspended.
He was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Youth Court on September 30.
Police said the new laws will send a strong signal to drivers to stay within legal speed limits
Meanwhile, a 55-year-old man was arrested in the state’s mid-north on Sunday afternoon, after he was clocked at 180km/h in a 100km/h zone.
The driver refused to stop at Ucolta but was intercepted at Yunta where he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.070 and was found to be the holder of a provisional licence.
He was refused bail and was due to appear at Port Pirie Magistrates Court on Monday.
‘These penalties send a strong message to people who choose to threaten the safety of other innocent members of the community by driving at extreme speed,’ Superintendent Gray said.
‘Driving in a way that endangers lives is a criminal act and will be treated as such by police.’
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