Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has condemned the behaviour of motorists detected riding or driving at extreme speeds.
Since Extreme Speed legislation came into place in December 2021, 66 motorists have been charged with the indictable (criminal) offence.
Under Extreme Speed the laws, a vehicle is driven or ridden at extreme speed if:
- The relevant speed limit is 60 km/h or less and the person drives the vehicle at a speed exceeding the relevant speed limit by 55 km/h or more
- The relevant speed limit is more than 60 km/h and the person drives the vehicle at a speed exceeding the relevant speed limit by 80 km/h or more
The law means that such drivers and riders are charged with an offence and will be tried in court rather than receiving an expiation.
Commissioner Grant Stevens said the danger that extreme speeding poses to the community should not be under estimated.
“There is a cohort of our community that chooses to deliberately engage in reckless, dangerous behaviour on our roads, with no concern for the risk they pose to themselves, their passengers and other innocent road users,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“Make no mistake. These people behave like criminals and will be dealt with as criminals.”
An Extreme Speed offence allows police to impound vehicles and motorcycles and if convicted, drivers and riders can be jailed for up to three years and face a mandatory minimum two-year licence disqualification for a first offence. The licence disqualification period can be increased to five years for a subsequent offence.
In aggravated circumstances, the maximum penalty could be increased to up to five years’ imprisonment with a mandatory minimum licence disqualification for five years.
Commissioner Stevens recognised the work of SAPOL’s PolAir team which is instrumental in proactively patrolling and detecting dangerous drivers on the state’s roads.
He said, “Our Air Wing services provide enhanced observation capabilities, increasing the opportunity for extreme speeders to be caught and reducing the need for ground patrols to engage in high speed pursuits.”
On Tuesday 24 May, SAPOL detected four vehicles travelling at extreme speeds;
- At about 11.30am PolAir tracked a motor cycle detected travelling at speeds over 160 km/h on South Road Welland
- About 11.45am PolAir tracked a motor cycle travelling at 155 km/h in a 60km/h zone on Main North Road at Salisbury Heights
- At about 7pm PolAir observed a utility overtaking other vehicles at speed and crossing double white lines on Fenden Road Salisbury. It was tracked travelling at 110km/h in a 60 km/h zone
- At about 7.20pm PolAir tracked a black Harley Davidson motorcycle near the intersection of Kings Road and Salisbury Highway. The speed was detected to be in excess of 150 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
“We will dedicate all appropriate resources to catching and charging people who recklessly endanger lives on our roads in this way,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“These people need to understand that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Police have released this footage and are appealing to the public for assistance, including dashcam footage, in these or any other incidents of extreme speed and ask anyone who has information that may assist the investigations to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Rider reported for extreme speed at Welland
Rider caught at extreme speed in Salisbury Downs
PolAir tracks dangerous road users
