A motorist clocked at 115km/h on the Kaimai Range is one of a handful of incidents involving people driving at 'crazy” speeds so far this holiday period.
Waikato District road policing manager Inspector Freda Grace says Boxing Day saw a number of drivers stopped for excessive speed.
Photo: File.
'These included a reading of 189km/h on the Waikato Expressway, 181 km/h on State Highway One at Horotiu and 115km/h on the Kaimai at State Highway 29.
'The Kaimai are simply not designed for travel at this speed.”
All of these drivers had passengers or family with them, giving a range of excuses including they were late from a barbecue.
'It is unacceptable to place those most close to you are such significant risk. This at the time of year when the traffic on the roads is significantly higher than usual and roads users are often not familiar with the route they are taking.”
Freda says while the majority of drivers are being patient and using the roads in an appropriate manner over the holiday period there are still a number driving at ‘crazy' speeds.
The worst incident has been on Saturday with police pulling over a driver a motorist travelling northbound on the Waikato Expressway at 224km/h
Freda says the drivers' initial speed was checked at a 'whopping” 240km/h which is simply reckless.
'We calculate that given normal prudent driver reactions, coupled with the vehicle being in good condition, at a speed of 240km/h it would take twelve seconds and 450 metres to stop.”
'If you are travelling at this speed, and something untoward happens up to 450 meters in front of you – the chances of you being involved in a collision are high.”
Freda says the key is to start your drive in holiday mode.
'Leave early so there is no rush to get to the destination.
'Take regular breaks, perhaps visit a place on the route you have not been to before, ensure you and your vehicle are fit for the journey, well rested and mechanically serviced before taking the trip.”
'Police want to prevent crashes and ensure road user safety, making sure every trip is safe and all reach their destinations to spend time with their families and friends making the New Year one to remember for the right reasons.”
Speed / Stopping Distance Guide
240km Distance 450m Time 12 secs
224km Distance 400m Time 11.3 secs
150km Distance 200m Time 8 secs
100km Distance 100m Time 5.8 secs
29 comments
Shock Horror
Posted on 29-12-2014 12:08 | By Spy
115 Km/hr this is terrible take away the car. How is the hell are you supposed to safely pass nan and pops in the buzz box towing the caravan without going over the posted limit.
115km - whoa!!
Posted on 29-12-2014 12:28 | By Bigmacnfries
Come on police, concentrate on the real crimes. 115km! whoppy doo!
.
Posted on 29-12-2014 13:15 | By whatsinaname
YOU HAVE PATIENTS AND WAIT isn't it better to arrive late at your destination alive than to not arrive at all. come on common sense people . keep the speed down, concentrate on your driving and there will be no distraught people loosing family members. one of them could be your family or friend
bigmacnfries
Posted on 29-12-2014 14:26 | By whatsinaname
Lets hope your not in the way of one of the speeding idiots when they loose control or cross the centre line and hit your car or families car. with an attitude like that
Yep !
Posted on 29-12-2014 14:38 | By SonnyJim
It is either patience or be a patient.
Hype
Posted on 29-12-2014 14:42 | By Capt_Kaveman
over nothing 115kph is not a lot for a good driver but but this time of year no and limit is 100, police need to attack the useless drive105-110 are not the ones that kill , bee more likely be ones who do 85 and text or to busy chating
115kh ?!?!
Posted on 29-12-2014 14:47 | By The Caveman
Most modern new cars are not even humming at 115kh, oh and yes they have brakes to match............
Figures?
Posted on 29-12-2014 14:48 | By GreertonCynic
Come from where? 12 seconds is a stretch.....My motorcycle (manufactured to travel at those speeds) can stop a LOT quicker than that(check your mirrors first). And as previously stated, a short burst @115-120 to get past the tosser with the caravan/boat shouldn't be a punishable offense.
Focus on real cause
Posted on 29-12-2014 14:55 | By mutley
Sure, driving slower is a good thing. But over the last two weeks the big crashes have not been speed related. There is no safe speed at which a truck can hit the side of any car without carnage. We need to drive better not slower and the Police should focus on the root cause of crashes and not just bang on about speed and alcohol.
Ratepayer
Posted on 29-12-2014 15:10 | By GreertonCynic
Ha. Well said.
More figures....
Posted on 29-12-2014 15:49 | By GreertonCynic
Have the cops done the math? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braking_distance. So MANY variables.
Heinous crime of speed
Posted on 29-12-2014 16:00 | By space cadet
Its kind of ironic in another report in this newspaper that two fatal collisions in the BOP during this holiday season were probably the result of catastrophically bad decisions surrounding entering traffic flows and less to do with excessive speed. Yet the constant propaganda (and resulting revenue source?) is about speed to the extent that anything over the posted limit has become a heinous crime in the eyes of many. Inappropriate speed is unsafe from both ends of the spectrum and a lack of judgement in this aspect is no worse or better than poor judgement entering or leaving busy traffic flows. Yet Police focus is almost transfixed on speed enforcement to the detriment of all else. Why is that?
Calling the police out
Posted on 29-12-2014 16:39 | By Annalist
I'd like to call the police out on their plans to issue tickets for 1 km over the speed limit. Despite the Police crackdown on speed all year, there have been 40 more road deaths than last year. Will the media scrutinise police bull? By all means get stuck into crazy speedsters and repeat drink drivers, but leave the ordinary alone. Perhaps average people are just an easy target? Most police cars I follow around travel at well above the city speed limit, with no flashing lights.
Crashes
Posted on 29-12-2014 17:54 | By NZgirl
all crashes this holiday period are not due to speed. its the look left, look right and look again before pulling out.
Out of touch
Posted on 29-12-2014 19:15 | By FunandGames
looks to me the Police are out of touch with the people
Seriously
Posted on 29-12-2014 21:52 | By Lpggas
Unbelievable the righteous ones trying to make somebody a criminal for doing 115km. There's absolutely nothing wrong with doing 115 in a overtaking manoeuvre providing you have ample clear road ahead and use those orange flashing things before you do so . Those do gooders squawking on here about that criminal speed are probably the same plonkers who whilst I was towing a traitor long distance on Christmas Eve ( and sitting on the limit of 90 ) were taking the entire passing lane to pass and often often ending up along side me as the passing lane ended .. Totally pig ignorant and dangerous driving that is
Stick to the law of the land!
Posted on 29-12-2014 22:00 | By monty1212
No wonder there are to many tragic accidents happening when you have morons like some of these commentators around! These are just the sort of morons who are giving the bay a bad name.
scorpio
Posted on 30-12-2014 07:21 | By scorpio640
you guys are idiots.poo pooing the police .slow down it may be my son you kill when you are speeding
Woody
Posted on 30-12-2014 08:04 | By woodyw
Interesting to see many here defending the 115km and using the excuse that it's ok to do so when overtaking. I see nothing in the article to indicate an overtaking move was being executed. Further more, if you are overtaking a slower vehicle and you have the correct distance and visibility to do so...then there is still no need to maintain that speed. The way I see it...anyone trying to make excuses or justifications for any excessive speeds, are doing so to try and justify their own bad behavior. Drive safe out there people, use your head...not the accelerator and take the time to make the correct decisions!!
Give the cops a break!
Posted on 30-12-2014 08:50 | By Calm Gully
Wow! so many negative comments about the Police! :( You get out there and deal with what they see and do.) They have to start somewhere .. laws are there for a reason. 115 is Ok??? Then 150??? where do you stop? 100 is the limit, stick to it and allow time to get to where you are going at that speed! Speed, alcohol, concentration and simple disregard for the law is what causes accidents - the average joe blow NOT the Police, they are fighting a losing battle and your comments don't help. Take responsibility for your own actions and then there wouldn't be so many accidents and the Police could concentrate on 'real' crime. Give 'em a break, how about appreciating what they do? Happy New Year to all!
115 km/hr
Posted on 30-12-2014 09:17 | By chewy
So when the limit on certain roads gets raised to 110km/hr, eg eastern link next year,will there will be carnage? I don't think so. Driving to the road conditions is big factor for safe driving. This time of year when there are lots of out of towners unfamiliar with the roads speeding up and slowing down holding up traffic,tired drivers,tired kids,heat ...............
KAIMAI not designed for speed
Posted on 30-12-2014 09:27 | By Colleen Spiro
The Kaimai are simply not designed for travel at this speed. It says so in the article and I agree....How do you know this guy was not caught on a stretch of road that recommended 85kmh....How many people have to die....sad thing is that these morons, usually end up killing someone else.
Once again...
Posted on 30-12-2014 10:32 | By Graham
...we have people using this topic to take cheap shots at police. Thankfully there are some thoughtful comments as well. Recently I undertook a Tauranga/Wellington return journey with most traffic humming along, incident free, at 100kph (was my speedo accurate, I wonder?). There were only three occasions with drivers intent on attempting to cause a crash, including a motorcyclist passing at speed over double yellows and a blind corner. Camper vans were a bit irritating but most pulled over where possible. Incidentally, the one idiot Audi driver who only just managed to make it back after passing, gained 2 cars for the next 40 kms! Congratulations to the majority of drivers for making my journey actually enjoyable!
Petition against Police propoganda.
Posted on 30-12-2014 14:56 | By The Commentor
To those who are fed up with the endless and increasingly absurd Police propoganda, please feel free to sign and share this petition. https://www.change.org/p/nz-government-nzta-and-the-nz-police-no-zero-speed-tolerance?lang=en-AU
Real crime stoppers
Posted on 30-12-2014 22:50 | By Deano43
Get real police force there is people out there doing far worst things in society , catch the real criminals, people travel over the Kaimais a lot faster than 115k's everyday...
Dont Want to face reality
Posted on 31-12-2014 08:13 | By Blessed
UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE U LOVE... Speed kills, in-attention kills, there are more accidents, more people on the road, and faster cars, and still people dont get it, if we all did the speed limit and were considerate about each other on roads we would be fine, Speed limits reflect road conditions, whether it be residential, rural, slippery, curved ect. it only takes 1 SECOND!!!why the rush? use *555 if u see idiots doing dangerous maneuvers, yes we use speed to pass, but there are idiots doing more then 120km all the time, for no Good reason.....
@The Commentor
Posted on 31-12-2014 15:23 | By penguin
I bet your attitude would change if you needed the Police for something affecting you or your family...
115kph - LOL
Posted on 17-01-2015 22:14 | By swt3
what next. This is what these modern cars are made to do. Drivers need to look left, right, use those things they call mirrors before pulling out, & CONCENTRATE. If you are travelling 'too slow', you lose concentration, & stop focussing. You need to be alert & 'look ahead', before you get to the problem. Not jsut staring blindly at the bumper of the car in front of you, but look at least 4 cars ahead. 'Look' around the corner, not immediately in front of you. I do ride a motorcycle, we are taught to corner correctly, & 'look' ahead'. Car drivers need to do the same. 115kph is safe, if you drive responsibly.
What a Joke
Posted on 19-01-2015 19:33 | By swt3
How about all those who can;t even do 90 kph that hold up the lines of traffic. They don't use their mirrors, & have no idea whats behind them or around them. the Police should be checking some of these drivers before picking on someone that is just using the passing lane to get past them & clocking up to 115kph. Usually because the slower vehicle has them sped up. How many times have you been travelling in a line of traffic at 100kph & everyone is going steadily, then some 'no good', pulls out in front of you from a side road, & continues to travel at 70kph. What a joke.
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