Road used as ‘racetrack’ by hoons

A hoon recently smashed intp a sign on Vesper Drive, Narre Warren.

By Brendan Rees

An outraged Narre Warren business owner says it’s just a matter of time before “someone will get collected” by hoons in an industrial area.

The owner — who asked to remain anonymous — said hoons were using Vesper Drive like a “racetrack” with some reaching speeds as high as 150km/h.

He said a car lost control a few weeks ago and ploughed into a sign at front of his business which allegedly involved a high-powered Ford Mustang.

“We heard the skid and the big bang,” he said.

“We get burnouts most weekends and you can just hear them hooning around because they’re high powered cars.

“Every half an hour you’ll hear something go past at some enormous speed.”

He said many families who frequented martial arts and dancing schools nearby were at risk of being “wiped out” by speedsters.

Casey Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Mel Hardie said Vesper Drive was “one of many industrial areas” used by hoons and were doing their best to tackle the problem.

“There’s multiple areas across Casey, Greater Dandenong, and Cardinia, and they usually go from one spot to the other,” she said.

Police have the power to impound a car for a month if driven by people in a dangerous manner.

“If they continue with that behaviour the vehicle will be forfeited to the state and either crushed or donated to the SES for them to practice their jaws-of-life on,” Leading Snr Const Hardie said.

“A lot of people do have dash cams these days and will notify us – and we might not catch them on the night but we will catch up them.”

Courts can also impose a fine up to $28,000 and/or imprisonment of up to two years.