In what could be one of South Australia’s most extreme speeding offences, a 20-year-old learner driver was caught hurtling down the North-South Motorway at a staggering 253 km/h in a Holden Commodore SS ute. The incident occurred in July 2021, but the shocking details and consequences continue to make waves.
The young driver’s ute was seized under SA’s anti-hoon laws and, in a controversial decision, crushed by police. The crushing of a $20,000 vehicle reportedly yielded only a few hundred dollars in scrap, with proceeds donated to the Victims of Crime Fund.
While the destruction of hoon vehicles is intended as a strong deterrent, the decision sparked debate. Many argue that auctioning seized cars could provide more substantial funds for road safety initiatives or victims’ support, rather than creating unnecessary waste.
This particular speeding offence stands out not only for the sheer speed but also for the driver’s inexperience, holding only a learner’s permit at the time. Police described the speeds as “life-threatening,” with any error at that pace likely resulting in catastrophic consequences.
Interestingly, this is not the fastest recorded speeding incident in Australia. In November 2022, a 22-year-old driver in New South Wales was allegedly caught driving a Volkswagen Golf R at an astonishing 280 km/h on the Hume Motorway near Mittagong, where the speed limit is 110 km/h. The driver faced dangerous driving charges, license suspension, and significant fines. This remains one of the most extreme cases of speeding recorded in the country.
The case in SA remains one of the most talked-about examples of hooning in South Australia and highlights the state’s ongoing crackdown on dangerous driving. While the ute may be gone, the story of SA’s “fastest driver” still serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of excessive speed.
