• Full Story

Island rally promotes speeding - police

Print

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 9:20p.m.

A motorcycle rally in teh South Island plans to travel 2000km in 48 hours (file pic)

A motorcycle rally in teh South Island plans to travel 2000km in 48 hours (file pic)

Police are condemning a motorcycle rally where drivers are encouraged to travel 2000km through the South Island over 48 hours.

A Tasman District Police spokeswoman says the TT2000 South Island event set to be held this weekend encourages dangerous driving.

The event challengers riders to visit 150 locations covering 2000km across the South Island.

Road policing manager Inspector Jenni Richardson says while the event organisers have warned drivers about speed and fatigue there was no doubt the TT2000 was a race.

"This event promotes everything we're against in road policing," she says.

"Riders are encouraged to cover extreme distances on winding and remote roads over one weekend.

"I have no doubt that there will be extremely fatigued riders travelling at excessive speeds all over the South Island."

She says a driver participating in the event in Golden Downs, near Nelson, was killed two years ago.

"Make no mistake, we will be targeting riders taking part in this race. The underlying motivation behind this event is in my view a recipe for disaster."

Event organiser Mike Ryan told NZ Newswire said police had been complaining about the event for a number of years and he did not want to comment.

NZN

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

23 Feb 2012 11:44a.m.

Rewa Jensen wrote:

This police spokeswoman needs to pull her head out of the very dark place that it is. My husband is 62 years old and has been a part of the TT2000 for the last few years. It certainly does not encourage dangerous driving. Most of the riders are very experienced. I have done over a thousand k's in one day.... fatigue? I don't think so