“IDIOTS” is how one resident describes young drivers risking their lives behind the wheel.
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The comments come after police carried out an operation last weekend in a bid to stem the number of young drivers acting recklessly on Leeton shire roads, in particular in relation to the number of “burn outs” happening.
Police have received a number of complaints from residents in recent weeks about drivers doing burn outs at all hours of the night.
The Leeton High School ovals and town oval carparks have been a popular place for such activity, as well as the Mountford Park area. In response, highway patrol netted results that were even surprising to police on Friday night.
One p-plate driver was found to be drink driving with a reading of 0.130 (the legal limit is zero) and another was charged with performing an aggravated burn out in Belah Street while unlicensed. Five were detected driving vehicles with defects and 25 traffic infringement notices were issued.
Vance Estate has always been a “popular” place for hoons doing burn outs, according to business owner in that area, Wayne Aylett. Mr Aylett is also part of the Leeton Motor Sports Club and said if drivers wanted to test their limits they should join a club and do so in a controlled environment.
“There’s always idiots out here, particularly of a night time,” he said. “I was only speaking to the police about it the other day. It’s absolutely ridiculous and it’s hard for them to catch them in the act. It’s good they are policing it more.”
Griffith Local Area Command Chief Inspector Tony Reneker said the incidents of hoon driving had been increasing, but even he was surprised with the results of Friday’s operation.
“Over the years in Leeton we have seen young people killed and seriously injured due to reckless driving and we make no apology for our lack of tolerance in regards to young drivers specifically,” he said.