Southern Police are extremely concerned about an increase in visiting overseas drivers clocking excessive speeds, at times up to 170km/hr, others passing on blind corners, then trying to barter their way out of the instant $630 fine.

Two visiting drivers, one an Indian visitor from Australia and the other a visitor from India, were each slapped with the $630 fine and had their licences suspended after clocking in at 149km/hr and 148km/hr just south of Garston last Saturday (Sept 28).

Police say it’s a pattern emerging all over the southern region with a Chinese visitor allegedly clocking in at a whopping 168km/hr near Ranfurly last week.

He was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, had his licence suspended for 28 days, as is standard, and has been bailed to appear in the Alexandra District Court.

The man, who had three passengers in the vehicle, offered no real explanation for his excessive speed.

Otago Lakes Central Road Policing Manager Acting Senior Sergeant Bruce Martin says many of these drivers give no excuse at all and often look at Police blankly when asked if they know the speed limit in the area, he says.

“Depending on which country they’re from they will try and use the barter system with officers to bargain the price of the fine down and we have to explain that ‘No, it’s a set fee’, Martin says.

Western Southland Road Policing Supervisor Sergeant David Leach, of Te Anau, says he clocked a young female German driver in her mid-20s just yesterday (4 October) at 133km/hr, near Te Anau, racing back to Queenstown.

“There was flooding on the road verges and surface flooding,” Leach says. “She said she thought the speed limit was 130km/hr. They say that but there are signs.”

Homer Tunnel on the Milford Road. Photo: NZTA

The worst issue in the Fiordland area is with overseas drivers passing on blind corners and yellow lines heading into Milford, he says.

Police see some excessive speeds on the Te Anau Mossburn highway, usually with overseas drivers racing to meet Milford boat schedules.

“Tourists don’t appreciate the distance to Milford Sound and feel pressure when their GPS starts telling them they’ll be late,” Leach says.

A professional overseas small bus driver, who was arrested and charged with dangerous driving, is currently before the courts after allegedly passing other coaches on blind corners around The Divide.

“There was a steep rocky cliff on one side and a drop off into steep beech forest on the other, no shoulder to pull over on,” Leach says.

The worst case he’s seen was a Japanese man caught driving at 178km/hr in fog down the Five Rivers Hill, who’d driven through Queenstown on his way to Milford, evading Police, after he was reported speeding through the Kawarau Gorge.

Police are stopping increasing numbers of drivers speeding up to over 70km/hr above the 100km/hr speed limit and Leach is urging other road users to be vigilant, drive defensively and report any dangerous driving.

A patrol car with flashing lights pursued an international driver from China for 8kms on the Crown Range on Wednesday after he was driving on the wrong side of the road towards an oncoming vehicle, narrowly avoiding a head on collision.

The driver persistently failed to stop, then sped through Cardrona township at an alleged 80km/hr, Martin says.

The rental car company cancelled his contract.

Police contact rental car companies which usually cancel the contract leaving the offending drivers up for the cost of recovery.

“As we get into the heat of summer, we see more speeds in the 140s and 150s, especially late in the evening coming out of Milford Sound as they just want to get back to Queenstown,” Leach says.

On Tuesday night an overseas driver missed a turn off and pulled over then did a U-turn on the outskirts of Te Anau causing the car following to smash into her. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Ranfurly Police also stopped an overseas driver on Tuesday (1 Oct) who’d allegedly been driving at 142km/hr, while Martin says he stopped another Chinese national on Wednesday who was allegedly speeding at 112km/hr in pouring rain, at Wedderburn, near Ranfurly.

Police say they stop plenty of bad Kiwi drivers too, reaching speeds in the 120s, 130s and 140s, and many drivers from the same nationalities as those caught recently are excellent, careful drivers.

Milford Road. Photo: NZTA

Some though are just unaware of NZ road rules and conditions. They’re used to driving in slow, heavy traffic loads on jammed motorways. “However, the onus is on them to familiarise themselves with NZ rules,” Martin says.

Police are urging drivers to be extra vigilant and drive defensively with increasing tourist numbers anticipated heading into summer and more international drivers on our roads.

“Statistics show travelling at only 5 to 10km/hr over the speed limit greatly increases your chances of death or serious injury,” Leach says. “People speeding and passing on blind corners have just got no idea of the risk they’re putting themselves and others at.”

*Police urge road users to report any dangerous driving (via 111 if there’s imminent danger of 105 if it’s after the fact).