A compilation of speed-related articles primarily from the South African press, some amusing and interesting entries…
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From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_2039372,00.html
Lamborghini trapped at 251km/h
03/12/2006 16:58 – (SA)Johannesburg – Metro police arrested five motorists on Sunday for speeding – including a Lamborghini driver doing 251km/h in Midrand.
Along with the luxury-car owner, metro police arrested the drivers of a Peugeot and a Porsche driving at more than 180km/h on the N14 in Midrand.
Inspector Edna Mamonyane said: “The Lamborghini driver was very calm, and praised metro police for the way they handled him.”
The trio was taken to Muldersdrift police station and were due to appear in court on Monday.
On the N1 in Kliprivier, metro police arrested the drivers of an Audi and a Nissan Sentra, driving at 184km/h and 195km/h respectively. On Friday, along the same stretch of freeway, three BMW drivers and a VW Jetta driver were arrested for speeding.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2074654,00.html
Man ‘unaware’ of 234km/h speed
25/02/2007 14:03 – (SA)Johannesburg – A man caught driving at 234km/h in a 120km/h zone early on Sunday claimed not to have realised he was speeding, Ekurhuleni Metro police said.
The 25-year-old in his BMW was one of five motorists pulled over in Germiston on the N3 freeway near PPC Cement, said Inspector Kobeli Mokheseng.
A 22-year-old clocked at 182km/h, also in a BMW, was also fined for bearing registration plates in black and not regulation blue.
Three other motorists were arrested for driving between 192km/h and 208km/h.
A ll were arrested and taken to the Germiston police station. Those who were not able to summon a friend or relative to pay bail will spend the night in custody and all five will appear in the Germiston magistrate’s court soon.
The arrests form part of the department’s “Operation Velocity” campaign to reduce speeding along that stretch of the highway following complaints from other motorists and a high number of accidents.
Since its launch in 2002 arrests for speeding have dropped from an average of 30 to 35 per weekend to around five.
Speedsters travelling up to 180km/h have the option of maximum fine of R1 500, and from 181km/h upwards officers are compelled to take offenders into custody.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2064221,00.html
Off to play golf – at 206km/h
04/02/2007 17:28 – (SA)Johannesburg – Nine men were arrested at the weekend for speeding, said Ekurhuleni metro police said.
One driver was trapped doing 237km/h on the N3 near Linksfield in Edenvale on Sunday morning, said inspector Jimmy Maboko. The speed limit on that road is 120km/h.
The 23-year-old driver in an Audi TT told police he had just dropped his girlfriend off and was returning home.
Five others were arrested on the same road on Sunday between 04:00 and 08:00.
A 28-year-old man in an Alfa Romeo was arrested for driving at 202km/h.
Maboko said: “A 45-year-old man in a Ford Territory was doing 206km. He said he was going to play golf. It was 06:21.”
Released on R1000 bail
A 27-year-old man driving a VW Polo was on his way to the airport when he was pulled over. He had been doing 193km/h.
“A 30-year-old man in a Honda Ballade was doing 184km/h and 28-year-old in a Mercedez-Benz was doing 191km/h. They were arrested and all were taken to Edenvale police station.”
Maboko said all six arrested on Sunday had been released on bail of R1 000.
They are due to appear in Germiston magistrate’s court on Monday on charges of reckless and negligent driving.
The three other men were arrested on Friday night in a 60km/h zone in Primrose, Germiston.
The first to be arrested was an 18-year-old driving a Volkswagen Golf at 123km/h.
“He did not have a reason for speeding, but a 20-year-old arrested shortly afterwards doing 128km/h in a VW Golf told police he was speeding because his mother had told him come back home,” said Maboko.
Claimed speedo was faulty
A 43-year-old man driving a new Dodge Viper was arrested for driving at 126km/h.
“He claimed his speedometer was defective. But we are talking about a 2006 model here.”
“We gave all the men the option of bail. They paid R1 000 and were released,” said Maboko.
They also were due to appear in Germiston magistrate’s court on Monday.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2085470,00.html
Ferrari driver up on speed rap
Johannesburg – The 43-year-old driver of a Ferrari, travelling at 208km/h in a 120km/h zone was one of four motorists arrested for speeding.
Ekurhuleni metro police said on Sunday they also had arrested 54 pedestrians for jaywalking on freeways on the East Rand.
The other drivers arrested were one in a BMW travelling at 202km/h, one in a Mercedes-Benz trapped at 189km/h and another BMW driver doing 180km/h.
Inspector Jimmy Maboko said the four speeding motorists were arrested in an operation along the N3 near the Geldenhuys interchange between 04:00 and 09:00 on Sunday.
The four were taken to Germiston police station from where they were to be released on bail of R1000 each.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_2036576,00.html
259km/h driver ’surrenders’
27/11/2006 17:15 – (SA)Johannesburg – A 32-year-old man handed himself in to police on Monday after he was caught driving at 259km/h on the East Rand, said Ekurhuleni metro police.
The man, driving a BMW M3, was stopped by police on Linksfield Road in Edenvale on Sunday, but drove off before he could be arrested, said inspector Jimmy Maboko.
“He told us that he was speeding because someone had broken into his factory and he was going to check it out.”
The man then drove off and police could not find him.
“Because we had his licence details, we were able to contact him to tell him he was now a wanted criminal.”
The man handed himself in at Edenvale police station and was arrested.
He was charged with reckless and negligent driving and failing to obey a police officer.
Two other motorists were arrested on Sunday after they were caught driving at 193km/h.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_2036576,00.html
Arrested for speeding while busting for a crap
“A 22-year-old man driving a Toyota Corolla told us he had the runs (diarrhoea) and that was why he was driving so fast.
“We arrested him and he will appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.”
A third man, in a BMW, also was caught driving at 193km/h.
He tried to escape, but police gave chase and the man was arrested after crashing into a tree.
On Saturday, a senior official of the department of social development was arrested for driving at 228km/h.
City Press reported that the official arrested was Vusimuzi Madonsela, the national director-general of the department.
Wayne Minnaar of Johannesburg metro police said they would motivate to have the official’s car impounded.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2036002,00.html
Directory General nabbed at 228km/h
26/11/2006 12:51 – (SA)Johannesburg – The director-general of the department of social development, Vusimuzi Madonsela, thought he had the highway to himself as he sped along the N1 at 228km/h in his Mercedes-Benz on Saturday. But the Johannesburg Metro Police were lying in wait.
They had been on the Golden Highway bridge near Eldorado Park, western Johannesburg, since 05:00 and zapped him as he flew past in a 120km/h zone at 09:00.
Madonsela was stopped a kilometre from where the camera had captured him and immediately taken to Mondeor police station where he was briefly detained on charges of reckless and negligent driving.
Madonsela, who was due to go to Switzerland on a business trip tomorrow had to cancel it because he has to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court.
Dressed in a striped black suit and wearing trendy and expensive shoes, he had to part with R1 500 for bail after spending a few hours behind bars. He was released at about 14:00 on Saturday.
Inspector Solly Makgoba said Madonsela was freed on bail after his address was “verified”.
The Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG Madonsela was driving is one of the fastest sports cars in South Africa.
It can dash from 0-100km/h in under five seconds and can surpass 200km/h in less than 14 seconds.
Although the German monster is electronically limited to 250km/h, its clock registers a hair-raising top speed of 320km/h.
As Madonsela spent a few hours in the holding cells, his R800 000, topless, 5.5 litre V8 car with personalised registration was parked outside the station.
Madonsela had to surrender his passport before he could be freed.
“What’s with the sensation? I have no comment,” he said when approached by City Press.
His lawyer refused to comment.
Two other drivers were also arrested for speeding on Saturday. The driver of a Mazda 323 was caught travelling at 181km/h and a BMW 318i was caught doing 191km/h.
The two were handcuffed while Madonsela walked about freely.
A few police officers at the station said they were concerned that Madonsela was receiving preferential treatment.
Rampaleng Matli, the driver of the BMW, said the law was “not fair”.
“I was handcuffed from the scene until I was thrown in the holding cells while the other suspect travelling at more than 200km/h was not cuffed,” he said.
“I understand what I have done is unlawful, but I believe all suspects should be treated equally and fairly.”
Madonsela tried to flee from the City Press photographer by climbing through a window at the police station, but he was too large to get through.
His arrest comes barely a week before the launch of government’s Arrive Alive campaign, which aims to reduce road accidents. Speed has been identified as one of the biggest causes of road accidents in the country. In 2004, Arrive Alive recorded 3 463 speed-related crashes and 4 183 speed-related fatalities.
Madonsela’s department hands out grants to orphans whose parents have died in road accidents and to those people who become disabled in car crashes.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_1981877,00.html
Ferrari speedster ‘late for Cape Town’
13/08/2006 14:28 – (SA)Johannesburg – At least 15 motorists were arrested on Friday and Sunday morning on the East Rand for exceeding the speed limit, Ekurhuleni metro police said.
Inspector Kobeli Mokheseng said eight motorists were arrested on the R23 near Brakpan on Friday for driving at speeds of between 142 km/h and 188 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.
They were taken to the Brakpan police station and will appear in the local magistrate’s court on Monday on charges of reckless and negligent driving.
On Sunday seven motorists were arrested on the N2 highway near Linksfield. They were doing between 181 and 211 km/h in a 120 km/h zone.
Mokheseng said the speeding motorists had several reasons for driving so fast.
“One man said he was late for his flight, the other one said his mother was sick, a third man in a Ferrari said he had missed his flight and was trying to get to Cape Town on time,” Mokheseng said.
The motorists will appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Monday, on charges of reckless and negligent driving.
Mokheseng warned motorists that the metro police action against speeding, Operation Velocity, would continue.
“We trap where there are many accidents, where the public complain of motorists speeding or driving recklessly.
“We will continue this operation. So, maybe tonight we will be trapping again and it will be your turn.”
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Off_Beat/0,,2-1225-2107_1948071,00.html
Speedster ‘drying car’
08/06/2006 14:48 – (SA)Amsterdam – Police confiscated the car and driver’s licence of a Dutchman caught speeding who said he only wanted to dry his car after he had washed it.
The 27-year-old was stopped in Amsterdam driving at 108km/h, 50km/h over the speed limit, police said.
“Because he did not have his driver’s licence with him, his clean car was confiscated until he produces it,” a police spokesperson said.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_2081671,00.html
Speedster: I work for Oprah
11/03/2007 14:24 – (SA)Johannesburg – Six speedsters have been arrested on East Rand roads during “Operation Velocity,” Ekurhuleni metro police said on Sunday.
Inspector Jimmy Maboko said one speedster told police he was American talk show host Oprah Winfrey’s bodyguard.
“I am rushing from Johannesburg to Pretoria,” Maboko said the Mercedes Vito driver told officers.
He was caught driving at 188km/h in the 120km/h zone on the N3 highway near Linksfield on Sunday morning.
On the same road, a motorcyclist was caught driving at 206km/h. He had no reason for speeding, Maboko said.
In Alberton, a 38-year-old BMW driver was caught driving at 208km/h on the N12 near the Reading interchange.
“Driving fast is my hobby. Don’t think I’ll ever drive slower,” Maboko said the BMW driver told police who later arrested him.
The other speedsters were arrested on Heidelberg road in Els Park on Friday. Two of them were driving at 128km/h while the other one was driving at 124km/h in a 60km/h zone.
The six were granted R1 000 bail and would appear in court on Monday.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_2071071,00.html
‘Overheating made me speed’
18/02/2007 14:20 – (SA)Johannesburg – Car chases, mechanical problems and fatigue were offered as excuses by 11 speedsters caught travelling at up to double the legal limits on Ekurhuleni roads over the weekend.
“My car is overheating so I had to speed, so that before anything happens I am home,” a 40-year-old man caught driving a Mazda MX-6 at 148km/h in a 70km/h zone in Kempton Park told Ekurhuleni metro police.
A 43-year-old man in a BMW caught driving at 181km/h in a 120km/h zone in Germiston claimed he was being chased. “… But funnily enough we couldn’t find those people,” said metro police spokesman Inspector Jimmy Maboko.
Of the 11 arrests, four were in a 70km/h zone on the Old Pretoria road in Kempton Park on Friday night, and seven in a 120km/h zone on the N3 near the Geldenhuys interchange, Germiston, on Sunday morning.
All would face charges of reckless or negligent driving.
A 26-year-old woman caught driving a Volvo at 147km/h in Kempton Park told metro police she was “rushing home”.
A 36-year-old man was caught travelling on the same road at 139km/h in a Mazda bakkie and another man, no age given, in a Volkswagen Jetta at 135km/h. Neither gave a reason for speeding.
All of the arrests in Germiston were of men and all were driving at least 60km/h over the speed limit, said Maboko.
A 22-year-old man travelling at 181km/h in a BMW told police “he was tired and just rushing home,” while a 23-year-old man driving at 189km/h in an Opel Corsa claimed he was on his way to meet his pregnant partner.
A 26-year-old man driving a BMW at 188km/h told police he was just in a hurry to get home.
No reasons for speeding were given by a 19-year-old man clocked at 191km/h in a Volkswagen Jetta, a 21-year-old man at 185km/h in a Volkswagen Polo, and a 31-year-old man at 184km/h in a Mercedes-Benz.
They were granted bail of R1 000 each and would appear in magistrate’s courts in Kempton Park and Germiston on Monday, said Maboko.
From —>
‘Device’ doesn’t save speedster
21/01/2007 16:47 – (SA)Johannesburg – Six speeding motorists were arrested along the N1 past the N12 freeway on Sunday, Johannesburg metro police said.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the six people, including one woman, were arrested and taken to the Mondeor police station where they were later released on R1500 bail each.
A man driving a Toyota Corolla was caught travelling at 182 kilometres per hour in a 120 kilometre per hour zone.
The woman driving a Mercedes was travelling at 188 kilometres per hour.
Another man, driving a BMW, was “upset” at being caught as he had a laser-jamming device fitted to his car. He was travelling at 181 kilometres per hour.
All the motorists arrested will appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court the coming week, said Minnaar.
Ekurhuleni metro police arrested 11 motorists and impounded 23 motorbikes in a weekend operation, said a spokesperson on Sunday.
Police impounded 23 motorbikes without registration plates during the roadblock.
From —> http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_2029060,00.html
Speedster gets friend to speed
12/11/2006 14:04 – (SA)Johannesburg – Ekurhuleni metro police have arrested 11 motorists for speeding in operations in Brakpan and Germiston over the weekend.
In one instance, a driver caught doing 148km/h in Brakpan was on his way to bail out a friend trapped earlier at 146km/h in an 80km/h zone, said spokesperson Jimmy Maboko.
The Brakpan operation took place between 19:00 and midnight on Friday on the R23 old Heidelberg Road, he said, adding: “We had six motorists arrested for speeding.”
The 24-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Golf registered doing 142km/h could not explain why he was speeding, but the 23-year-old motorist behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Fox doing 145km/h claimed he had a sick child at home, as did the 41-year-old driver of an Audi doing 148km/h.
While a 33-year-old BMW driver had no reason for driving 146km/h, a 30-year-old friend he called to bail him out was caught racing to help him at 148km/h in a Toyota Corolla.
A 41-year-old man in an Opel Corsa pulled over for travelling at 142km/h told metro police he had been on his way to visit his daughter, said Maboko.
He said all six were detained at the Brakpan Police Station where “whoever had the money” was given the option of paying a R1 000 fine.
Another five arrests were made in an operation conducted between midnight and 06:00 on Sunday on the N3 south and north at PPC Cement in Germiston – a 120km/h zone.
The 28-year-old, unlicenced driver of an Alfa Romeo was taken into custody for doing 183km/h, as a was a BMW driver caught doing the same speed while on his way to Durban.
He was rushing home to help his child, who had a cut finger, a 36-year-old man driving a Mercedes-Benz at 198km/h told metro police.
A motorist in a Renault was not only booked for speeding at 220km/h, but for driving drunk too, said Maboko.
Unlike the others, he would not be given the option of a fine, he said.Maboko said all 11 would appear in court on Monday. He warned motorists that similar operations would continue.
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