Motor Cyclists
Canterbury Police are concerned that the weekend phenomenon of motor cyclists treating public highways as a race track will end up costing lives, as the behaviour of some motor cyclists throughout the district has a high potential for tragedy.
"Despite the efforts of the road safety community in promoting safe use of our roads, there remains a sector of the motor cycling fraternity who still see themselves as `bullet proof' and above the law", says Senior Sergeant Neville Hyland, Canterbury Highway Patrol.
Two motor cyclists are walking this week, after having their drivers' licenses suspended for 28 days by Police, for extreme speed on State Highway 7 over the weekend. One had been caught riding at 149 km/h near Culverden and the other, in an unrelated incident, was caught at 147 km/h near Hurunui. Both also received an instant fine of $630. In a third unrelated incident, a motor cyclist's speed was checked at more than 150 km/h on the same stretch of road, while carrying a pillion passenger. Police were unable to stop the motor cycle, and due to the danger posed to other road users by this person's driving, they did not engage in pursuit.
"Come off a motorbike at these speeds on a public road, and there's not much debate. You're dead" says Senior Sergeant Hyland. "If you don't care about yourself, at least think about the carnage and devastation you'll leave behind in other people's lives", says Hyland. "If you want to travel at these types of speeds, do it on a closed race circuit".