The owner of the first car to be crushed under anti-boy racer legislation will be seen as a hero by his mates, says a road safety campaigner.
South Otago's Karn Clarrie Forrest, 18, appeared for sentencing in Balclutha District Court on Monday and admitted his third charge of "driving with sustained loss of traction".
It means his car - a 1982 Corolla - will be the first to be be crushed under anti-boyracer laws.
The legislation was trumpeted by former police minister Judith "Crusher" Collins but it has taken two years for the law to claim its first crushing.
She says the flattening of Forrest's car will send a message to the 86 people sitting on two wheel-spinning charges.
But Clive Matthew-Wilson, who edits the car review website dogandlemon.com, says the law is a waste of time and was simply there to make politicians look tough on crime.
"Yesterday, the owner of the first crushed car was just another boy racer with an attitude problem. Today he will be a hero to his fellow boy racers."
Mr Matthew-Wilson says Forrest's car was probably next-to worthless anyway.
"The idea that this car seizure will stop other youths offending is basically wishful thinking.
"Young females are attracted to young males who take risks. That's one reason young males are so reckless. A young male would rather lose his car and be attractive to young females than obey the law and sleep alone."
"The part of the male brain that links cause and effect doesn't fully develop until the early 20s. That's why young males often do silly things without thinking of the consequences."
Mr Matthew-Wilson says its important to keep the boyracer phenomenon in perspective, when compared with organised criminal gangs and the number of road deaths.
"By comparison, boy racers are obnoxious rather than dangerous."
NZN