Driver, aged 14, caught in traffic blitz

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 2

Driver, aged 14, caught in traffic blitz

A boy, aged 14, was caught in Christchurch in a campaign against drinking drivers by the Ministry of Transport at the week-end. He was stopped on Sunday by a traffic officer after he was seen to make a U-turh and go through two red traffic lights on Riccarton Road.

The boy told traffic officers that he had been drinking beer all the weekend and had borrowed the car from a friend. The Christchurch district traffic superintendent, Mr J. C. Butterfield, said yesterday that several charges against the boy were pending.

A total of 115 motorists were stopped for a breath -screening test, and 72 evidential breath tests were taken which were followed up by 49 blood tests. Car keys were taken by traffic officers from 108 motorists. No fatal accident was reported in the Christchurch district, which covers the area between Darfield and

Amberley. There were seven serious accidents, 16 minor, and 33 non-injury accidents.

The Press Association reported from Auckland that a speeding motor-cyclist, who had escaped after being chased in Hamilton on Friday, turned up in Auckland at the week-end.

He was checked at speeds of between 150 km/h and 160 km/h on inner-city streets while overtaking vehicles and going the wrong way up one-way streets. He was eventually caught but escaped again — this time on foot. Officers have the motor-cycle and 'are looking for the man. The Auckland City Council’s traffic department said that 344 motorists were issued with speeding tickets in the city during the weekend.

Fifty-seven people were issued with tickets for driving with an excess bloodalcohol level, and 87 were issued tickets for not having a current warrant of fitness.