A 22-year-old student has been caught by police driving at 177 km/h on the Hume Highway near Gundagai in wet, foggy conditions with an unrestrained passenger.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Highway Patrol officers on Tuesday morning conducted a speed testing operation and observed a Ford Futura exceed the speed limit by 67km/h.
Police pursued the car and noticed a passenger was frantically trying to put on his seat belt.
The driver, a Victorian student who held an international license, was issued fines totalling $3000 and had his license suspended for six months.
His passenger, a 23-year-old man, was also fined for not wearing his seatbelt.
NSW Highway Patrol Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said police had potentially saved at least two lives.
"Whilst the penalties for this driver and passenger are severe, at least they get to go back to their friends and families,” he said.
“Sadly for many this year, that hasn't been the case."
The annual state road toll currently stands at 221, which is 43 more than the same time last year.
