Serenity shattered as Darwin rural area street becomes hooning hotspot

RESIDENTS of a street near Darwin have been terrorised by the roaring engines and squealing tyres of hoons who use the road to test the limits of their cars. SEE the exclusivedrone photos HERE.

RESIDENTS of a street near Darwin have been terrorised by the roaring engines and squealing tyres of hoons who use the road to test the limits of their cars.

The bitumen on the 3.2km straight stretch of Stow Road, Howard Springs, bears the evidence of the hoons’ activities, with dozens of rubber tracks burnt into the surface of the road.

The intersection of Stow and Langton roads has been used as a burnout pad, with multiple tyre marks circling the intersection.

An NT News drone image taken from above the intersection reveals the extent of the hoons’ use of the intersection.

A Howard Springs resident who asked not to be named said the hooning had become progressively worse over the past few months, with the motorists returning more frequently.

“They are here every second or third afternoon. They (the engines) are billowing out, it’s like the cars don’t have a muffler,” the resident said.

“It’s really noisy and we shouldn’t have to put up with it.

Stow Road in Howard Springs has seen a series of hoon driving events that have left marks on the road and neighbours frustrated. Picture: Che Chorley

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“It’s been going on for quite a few months and every now and then there is a car I haven’t seen before.”

The resident said the cars were often new or modified vehicles.

The resident said if NT Police moved a mobile CCTV camera to the street it might act as deterrent to the hoons and bring some peace to the people who live on the otherwise quiet street.

The street is signed as a 60km/h zone but the resident said the speed signs had been knocked down.

Litchfield Council chief executive officer Daniel Fletcher said there had been an increase in vandalising of street signs in the Howard Springs area.

He said council staff were working to fix the signs as soon as possible.

Stow Road in Howard Springs has seen a series of hoon driving events that have left marks on the road and neighbours frustrated. Picture: Che Chorley

Mr Fletcher said the council had not received any reports of hooning issues on Stow Road but council officials had spoken to police about the vandalism to road signs.

“Council has had discussions with NT Police regarding various acts of violations across the municipality, especially in regards to the vandalism of road signs,” he said.

“It is council’s responsibility to care, control and maintain our local road network. Council will take the direction from the NT Police if further controls are needed on our roads to enforce the Road Traffic Act.

“Vandalism of road signs wastes ratepayers’ money and can hinder the NT Police, Fire and Emergency and St John Ambulance from attending emergencies promptly if roads aren’t clearly signed.”

According to NT law, speed trials, street racing, burnouts and causing damage to the road surface are considered to be hooning offences.

NT Police can seize a hoon’s car for 48 hours, immobilise the vehicle with a wheel clamp and fine the driver $220 for a first offence.

The driver also loses three demerit points.

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If a driver is caught hooning within two years of the first offence their car can be impounded for between three to six months. The driver will also face a heavier fine and a potential prison sentence.

A driver’s car may be seized permanently if they are caught hooning for a third time.

NT Police were asked about hooning issues in Howard Springs, but did not respond before deadline.