P-Plater caught speeding 200km/h in an 80km/h zone in Rockingham

A teenage P-plate driver has been issued a stern warning from a magistrate over his “appalling” speeding after being caught driving 200km/h in an 80km/h zone in Rockingham. The teenager, who cannot be named because he is underage, appeared before Rockingham Children’s Court on Wednesday, July 19, where he pleaded guilty to one count of reckless driving. Police prosecutor Sgt Brian Sutherland told the court on June 17, at 10.35pm, the teen was driving north along Mandurah Road and Warnbro Sound Avenue where police airwing observed him travelling at 200km/h in the 80km/h zone. The teen pulled into an address in Port Kennedy where he swapped cars before being stopped by police a short time later. When questioned by police, his explanation was “I didn’t think I was driving that fast”. Duty lawyer Deborah Denovan said on the day of the offence the teen had been rushing to drop off a friend, as he had to be home by the midnight driving curfew. Magistrate Catherine Crawford said “hopefully he has learnt something from this and doesn’t plan to come back to court”. “It’s shocking, especially to be using a vehicle on the road and perhaps a lack of maturity in realising that you didn’t know how fast you were really going,” she said. “When you are in charge of a vehicle, you are in charge of a dangerous weapon. “I am absolutely appalled; it could have led to an accident with incredible implications.” The teen was fined $500.