A teenage provisional driver in Canberra has offered a remarkably simple explanation after being caught driving at more than double the speed limit in the middle of the night: he was just "being silly".
Radar Detects Extreme Speed on Monaro Highway
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning, just after 12:20am, on the Monaro Highway near Fyshwick. ACT Police officers on patrol spotted a silver Honda Legend travelling at what they described as an "excessive speed". A police radar confirmed the vehicle was moving at a staggering 198 kilometres per hour in a signed 90km/h zone.
'Being Silly' No Excuse for Dangerous Behaviour
When police pulled the 19-year-old driver over and questioned him about his reckless speed, his only justification was that he was "being silly". Authorities confirmed that subsequent alcohol and drug tests returned negative results. However, they noted a particularly concerning detail: the young man's younger brother was a passenger in the car at the time of the high-speed offence.
Licence Suspended and Vehicle Seized
Police took immediate action against the provisional licence holder. Officers seized the Honda vehicle on the spot and issued an immediate six-month licence suspension to the driver. ACT Police stated that this is not the end of the matter, warning that "further action to his dangerous driving will be taken".
The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of extreme speeding, especially for inexperienced drivers. The combination of a provisional licence, a young passenger, and a speed of 108km/h over the limit created an extraordinarily dangerous situation that could have ended in tragedy.
