A young provisional driver has faced stern police admonishment and received one of Queensland's most severe speeding penalties after being intercepted allegedly travelling at nearly double the legal limit on a major motorway.
Police Intercept Teenager Allegedly Travelling at 189km/h
Queensland Police officers conducting routine patrols stopped the 17-year-old driver's vehicle on the Sunshine Motorway at Mountain Creek in the early hours of Saturday, January 31. According to police statements, the teenager was allegedly travelling at 189km/h in a 100km/h zone.
Body-worn camera footage from the incident captures a police officer explaining to the young driver just how serious the situation could have become. "I'll bet my last dollar your mum will sit in bed and cry when you tell her how quick you were going tonight," the officer tells the visibly shaken teen. "I'll bet on it, I'll guarantee you."
Chilling Perspective on High-Speed Dangers
The officer provided a sobering analogy to illustrate the dangers of such excessive speed. "Just to put it into perspective, you're travelling at just over 51 metres a second at that speed," the officer explained. "You're travelling half a football field every second."
He further detailed the braking limitations at such velocity, noting that "at that speed, your car would take two to three seconds — if not more — to even start braking and slowing down, once you slam the brakes on. Your stopping distance would be massive."
Maximum Penalties Applied for Extreme Speeding
The teenager received the maximum penalty available under Queensland law for exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h. This included:
- A substantial fine of $1,854
- An automatic six-month licence suspension
- Eight demerit points
Additional penalties were issued for vehicle defects and failing to properly display P-plates, bringing the total financial penalty to $2,443. The officer informed the driver that his parents would be contacted about the incident and that he faced losing his licence "for a long period of time."
Driver's Response and Police Concerns
When questioned about his speed, the teenager reportedly responded, "I think I did like 190," before being corrected by police that his actual speed was 189km/h — 89km/h over the limit.
The young driver, who had only held his licence for two months, offered an explanation about his P-plates falling off during the high-speed drive. The officer responded dryly, "I'm not shocked at 189km/h."
Police emphasised the need for serious reflection, with one officer advising the teen to "go home and have a long, hard look at yourself" and to discuss the incident with his parents immediately.
