Hours after police caught a 17-year-old boy allegedly speeding more than 100km/h over the limit on a motorcycle in Perth’s southern suburbs, they caught a 24-year-old man in a separate incident allegedly driving at similar speeds in Perth’s east.
In what WA premier Roger Cook has called “stupid, pathetic and irresponsible behaviour” both men have had their vehicles impounded and will face a magistrate after they were charged with reckless driving.
A Triumph motorcycle is impounded by police after it was allegedly clocked travelling over 100km/h ovet the speed limit.Credit: Police Media
The 17-year-old was allegedly captured travelling at 175km/h in a 70km/h speed zone at about 5pm on Friday in Treeby.
The boy, who only holds a learner’s permit, was travelling in an easterly direction, police say, on Jandakot Road near Cessna Road on a Triumph motorcycle.
Separately, on Saturday morning, a 24-year-old man was allegedly detected by police travelling at 182km/h in a 70km/h speed zone in Forrestdale.
Police said the man was arrested just after 6.30am after he was caught in his Toyota Camry speeding on the Tonkin Highway near Ranford Road.
A police speedometer detects a driver allegedly travelling at 182km/h.Credit: Police Media
He also allegedly never held a driver’s license and was allegedly over the drink-driving limit.
“Driving at 112km/h over the speed limit, while nearly three times the legal alcohol limit, on wet roads, is an appalling example of driver behaviour,” Acting inspector Steve Waltrs of the Road Policing Command said.
WA premier Roger Cook was asked about the incidents on Saturday during a press conference and told media, in relation to the 17-year-old, “I hope they throw the book at him”.
“A young kid who is looking to the opportunity to drive, but has already demonstrated that that kid is not fit to hold a license in Western Australia,” he said.
“This is really regrettable behaviour. It just goes to show how important it is that everyone takes responsibility for making sure that they keep our roads safe.”
Commander of the unit Mike Bell said police would be everywhere over the long weekend to ensure drivers adhered to the road rules.
“We are out in force this weekend in a continued effort to influence positive road user behaviour and
reduce the number of people fatally and seriously injured on our roads,” he said.
“Motorcycle riders are already considered a vulnerable road user, but when you add that to the lack of experience and lack of judgement displayed by this learner rider, you can see how my officers have
prevented a tragedy.“
The Double Demerits period commenced from midnight on 24 January and will run until 11.59pm on Monday 27 January 2025.