‘Unbelievably stupid’: Car pinged driving 259 km/h along WA highway

Eight drivers have been charged after allegedly travelling at speeds of up to 259 kilometres per hour on WA roads, with police warning there is zero tolerance for motorists who treat public roads like racetracks.

About 9.20pm on August 12, it will be alleged an orange McLaren MA3 coupe was detected by a camera travelling at excessive speed northbound on Forrest Highway in Binningup, at an alleged speed of 259 kilometres per hour.

That is nearly 150 kilometres per hour over the speed limit.

The alleged driver, a 21-year-old from Shenton Park, had his address searched by police following an investigation into the speeding offence and a number of items related to the incident were seized.

The McLaren was subsequently impounded.

He has been charged with Reckless Driving at a speed of 155 kilometres or more and failing to give information identifying the driver or person in charge of a vehicle.

He is due to appear before Bunbury Magistrates Court on October 15.

However, the incident is not an isolated one, with police revealing they had investigated a number of significant incidents involving excessive speed and reckless driving behaviour in recent weeks, resulting in multiple drivers being charged.

From July 1 to September 30, 553 people were charged with reckless driving offences and police impounded 3075 vehicles.

Other reckless driving charges include a 23-year-old woman allegedly driving 133 kilometres per hour in a 70-zone in Malaga, a 26-year-old woman going 160 kilometres per hour also in a 70-zone in Henderson and a 26-year-old man caught 127 kilometres over the speed limit in Port Kennedy.

And on October 6, police seized a white Mercedes-Benz AMG, a blue Mercedes-Benz AMG and a white Lexus sedan after the vehicles were allegedly observed travelling together at excessive speeds on Wanneroo Road in Madeley.

Subsequent inquiries established the vehicles were allegedly travelling at speeds of up to 194 kilometres per hour on the Mitchell Freeway.

A 17-year-old man and 22-year-old man driving the Mercedes-Benz vehicles, along with a 19-year-old man in the Lexus, have each been charged.

Road Policing Command commander Mike Peters said the alleged speeds were both alarming and completely incompatible with the safe use of WA roads.

“At 259 kilometres per hour, there is no margin for error. A momentary lapse in concentration, a vehicle entering the roadway, or an unexpected hazard would have catastrophic consequences,” he said.

“The consequences of a crash at that speed are likely to be devastating, not only for the driver, but for any innocent road users who happen to be nearby.

“These are deliberate decisions to disregard the law and the safety of other road users. There is simply no excuse for this type of behaviour.

“If you choose to drive recklessly, expect to be caught and held accountable.”

Police Minister Reece Whitby said these cases were some of the worst examples of driving ever seen on WA roads.

“Travelling at 259 kilometres per hour is just unbelievably stupid,” he said.

“There is no margin for error at that speed and innocent people are at risk of paying the ultimate price for someone else’s reckless decision.”

Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.