Hoon figures released - Commodore confiscated the most, only half P-Platers

[AWD Chaser]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599...36-421,00.html

HOON cars are being seized at the rate of 50 a week with hot-headed drivers forced to pay more than $1 million so far to get their machines back.


Bendigo is Victoria's hoon capital and the Commodore the car of choice, latest police figures show.

Victorians will be urged to dob in dangerous drivers by calling Crime Stoppers with specific tips about local hoons, feeding a police intelligence database that will track the road menaces under a $250,000 scheme.

Of the 2600 cars impounded between January and December last year, 27 were locked away after police caught their drivers smashing the speed limit at more than 200km/h.

Road safety groups want Victoria to consider LA-style "crush-them" laws where serial hoons have their cars destroyed and a video of the demolition is posted online as a warning to others.

Traffic police have wielded their new confiscation powers with devastating force since the law came into effect 18 months ago. The figures show:

HOLDEN Commodores accounted for 837 seizures, ahead of Ford Falcons (220).

SOME revheads lost luxury cars such as Ferraris and a Lamborghini.

BENDIGO easily topped the list of hoon hotspots with 90 cars seized, followed by Mildura (44) and Geelong (43).

AT LEAST 44 per cent of hoon drivers were P-platers.

OF THE 1235 drivers charged for improper use of a motor vehicle, 830 were performing burn-outs while almost 300 were sliding over the road doing "fishtails".

Hoons lose their cars on the spot for two days when they are booked for a first offence.

Cars are impounded for three months for a second offence and indefinitely for a third strike.

Before they can retrieve their cars, drivers have to reimburse police the cost of towing and storage - $300 on average.

Since the laws took effect in July 2006, police have seized 3437 cars, which means hoons have copped a $1.03 million hit to the hip pocket.

NSW considering road safety groups' call to crush hoon cars

Road Trauma Support Group Victoria chief Julie Parke said the crushing scheme, with better education, was worth considering.

"These drivers are raising the bar all the time and that is dramatic, so maybe it needs a commensurate response that is dramatic too," she said.

Citizens Against Road Slaughter spokesman Colin den Ronden said destroying a hoon's prized possession would send a strong message.

The concept is being considered by the NSW Government. But the Victorian Government has ruled out crush-them laws, saying it prefers to sell serial offenders' cars and spend the money on road safety campaigns.

About one per cent of drivers caught in Victoria - or 120 - are repeat offenders.

Fewer than five cars have been forfeited to the state since the scheme began.

'Dob-in-a-hoon' campaign to begin soon

Insp Tom McGillian, from the vehicle impoundment support unit, said the high number of P-plate hoons was disturbing.

He warned that even the most minor error of judgment by a hoon driver could be fatal.

Insp McGillian said the dob-in-a-hoon campaign would start early this year.

"There are a number of council-run hotlines but we are in the process of establishing a model for this inside Crimestoppers," he said. "Intelligence will be collected and sent out for action by police."

On Thursday, police confiscated a motorcycle from a 33-year-old Bundoora man caught speeding at more than 200km/h on the Wallan-Whittlesea Rd.

A 19-year-old man on a P-plates spent the new year without his Commodore after he was caught speeding at 156km/h in a 100km/h zone on New Year's Eve.

Police Minister Bob Cameron said the anti-hoon laws were effective.

"The hoon laws take away the one thing these people care about, their cars."

Most cars were impounded between 4pm and midnight, and one in five cars was locked up on a Saturday.

Under a law introduced in November, any driver who leads police on a pursuit can have their car confiscated.

[yift]

wow!!

[Nostalgia]

Interesting read. Thanks Kia Chaser. Unfortunately i can see this becoming a bashing thread for Commo drivers. Please lets not go down this path.

[Mongoose]

Only 44% were P platers? what about the other 56% that arent p platers? why dont i hear about pensioner "hoons" all over the TV?

[Jack91]

Interesting read. Would be good to know how many ferrari's and lambos got confiscated and at what speeds.

[bcr2734]

this should be a thread now based on getting more race tracks open to the public for cheaper prices i say. there are only in nsw 3 circuits and 1 drag strip. and we are 3 times bigger than vic. it would take most of those guys off public roads and onto race tracks.

[Citric GT]

Not surprised about the stats on Commodore numbers, but I have to say that I thought the P platers would account for a higher percentage.

This business of dobbing in a hoon is a bit of a worry though. Its a load of .

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by Citric GT

Not surprised about the stats on Commodore numbers, but I have to say that I thought the P platers would account for a higher percentage.

This business of dobbing in a hoon is a bit of a worry though. Its a load of .

That's a very high percentage of P platers, how many are on the road compared to fully licensed drivers ?

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

Only 44% were P platers? what about the other 56% that arent p platers? why dont i hear about pensioner "hoons" all over the TV?

quite simple really - a driver is only on p plates for 3 years aren't they. that would mean almost half were between 18-21 years of age. that means just over half are between 22-89

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by NostalgEA

Interesting read. Thanks Kia Chaser. Unfortunately i can see this becoming a bashing thread for Commo drivers. Please lets not go down this path.

At least it would a justified bashing :

[XR6_661]

Haha.

Oh well, if ya don't hoon, you have nothing to worry about!

But the dob in a hoon thing is stupid...how many people are gonna take down number plates of cars that accelerate quick off the line and back off at the speed limit? Etc Etc.

[data_mine]

So the answer is simple. Ban P platers owning Commodores.

[AWD Chaser]

Originally Posted by XR6_661

Haha.

Oh well, if ya don't hoon, you have nothing to worry about!

But the dob in a hoon thing is stupid...how many people are gonna take down number plates of cars that accelerate quick off the line and back off at the speed limit? Etc Etc.

Too right... Been in this situation before many times, and have even been told to stop speeding, before I even got to the limit! (But this was back in the day of revenue raising, red light cameras and speed cameras... oh wait...)

Anyway, at least ACT doesn't have a problem with race tracks - we have the track that was used for the GMC 400 to race on!

Nah, I didn't mean for this to be an excuse for bashing commo drivers either. Mind you though, it could just be that there are more commos out on the road, hence more to get caught.

Looks like just 1 lambourghini got done for it.

I would like to know the age stats for the other 56% of people...

[XR6_661]

30+ year old soccer mums in 4WD's would make up that 56%...Judging by what I've seen in cairns haha.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

Only 44% were P platers? what about the other 56% that arent p platers? why dont i hear about pensioner "hoons" all over the TV?

Lets see.............

Because P Platers make up less than 7 % of all drivers ?

Yet they make up 44 % of the hoons !

The other subset of drivers make up just over 50 % of hoons. That means P platers are more than 7 times more likely to be hooning than other members of the driving public. This suggest you can make the biggest impact by targeting a small section of the driving public.

A small number of drivers, a large amount of hooning.

The 20 / 80 % stats rule.

You'll find the sizable % of a statistic outcome you're measuring is caused by a relatively small sample of the population. That's why.

[Whoosha]

yeah same old story but why go on about P platers they have there problems sure but the other 56% wern"t on there Ps so does that mean they were all old hoons : sure high speed and dangerous driving needs to be kerbed thats not what I am saying but NOTHING has changed in 30 years of being a petrolhead the media is still on the same old band wagon
the argument for more off street racing venues dosen"t realy wash to good either Heathcote has one of the best and cheapest Drag, Burnout pad ,oval tracks around and is 10 mins away from Bendigo the Hoon capital
.. for me its better education and harder testing the basic mum and dad "we can teach you " just doesnt cut it any more along with most driving schools . a trip down any main road or fwy you would think it compulsory to travell in right lane, stop at a roundabout or fly threw it at 80kms per hour even had a P platerblast her horn at me for not moving off from a railway crossing after the train had passed .Surlely SHE would rember that you arn"t allowed to move off till the lights and bells have stopped completely.. well thats my 2 cent worth

[Hunter]

Ahhhh totally not surprised that Commodore topped the list... it topped the list in NSW and in QLD as well.

And people say its wrong to stereotype? Well if the shoe fits...

[Tony xa]

I would be interested in seeing the stat's for hoons and modified cars as I find we are the ones targeted apart form p- platers which according to the stat's seems to be warranted .I also like the fact theres a hoon law before there's any figure's to show .

[galaxy xr8]

Doesn't surprise me one bit, Bendigo is full off them and getting worse.

[onfire]

Originally Posted by Hunter

Ahhhh totally not surprised that Commodore topped the list... it topped the list in NSW and in QLD as well.

And people say its wrong to stereotype? Well if the shoe fits...

Simply, as mentioned time and time again. Commodores are attractive cars to young men.. got a bit of power and generally cheap. Its your bang for buck theory thats all it is.

[DanielXR8]

Another win for Holden!

.... and a sad day for the VN Commodore fans, which must be feeling the pressure of so many being pulled off the road.

Now how do we target Sigma's?

[zetec]

Originally Posted by data_mine

So the answer is simple. Ban P platers owning Commodores.

But we also have to account for the non p-platers.

Just ban Commodores. Then they'll all drive Falcons... then they'll ban the Falcons. It'll never end : By pulling the Commodores off the roads, they're effectively increasing their rarity and making them harder to get, thus growing their resale values... from $1 to $2.50.

I disagree also with the dobbing in rubbish. Many p-platers will think it cool to dob in randoms, their mates, people that them off for no reason... I can see it turning into a bit you know what fight.

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by data_mine

So the answer is simple. Ban P platers owning Commodores.

Or put them in safe cars to start with....Lol...

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by NostalgEA

Interesting read. Thanks Kia Chaser. Unfortunately i can see this becoming a bashing thread for Commo drivers. Please lets not go down this path.

Like someone said bang for buck...


Rarely will most of these be a real enthusiasts car. Id guess majority will be the slightly done or bog stock, springs chopped, Supercheap Auto bass pumping, neon filled Christmas tree. Some half wit trying to impress people who have no interest, and the odd Shazza slag on the side of the street. This is why they wont go to a track, in real terms theyve got nothing. These people have no idea, thats why they still think people who have no interest in their car, are impressed by their laps of some cafe block.


(No offence to any Sharons, my older sisters name is Sharon)

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

Another win for Holden!

[XCSEDAN]

young people are learning, and having fun, nearly everybody here was a hoon when they first got their license were they not?

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by XCSEDAN

young people are learning, and having fun, nearly everybody here was a hoon when they first got their license were they not?

and there is the one that will take down the thread.

everyone has had a spirited drive surely, but i can honestly say i was NOT a hoon when i first got my license.
i didnt go racing other people, i didnt go and do burnouts all over the place either.
where i lived, if i wanted to do anything like burnouts or things that the cops might not like, i headed out to the farm or even the bush where i knew there was only me to injure if i screwed it up.
dont get me wrong either, im not talking Colin McCrae driving here either, im talking about learning about what happens when you yank a hand brake, when a tyre blows etc in the safety of an open area.

[Whoosha]

Originally Posted by XCSEDAN

young people are learning, and having fun, nearly everybody here was a hoon when they first got their license were they not?

No you miss the point its about being smart in what and ware you do things ,I will be the first to admit we had to learn, not being stupid in all the wrong places always made more sense to me . what make more sense to you go rip up the car park at maccas with your mates or go find a quiet nice twisty road ware you can drive at the limit or even head off to a club day or track some ware for not much more than the cost of the rubber you have left laying back at maccas

[phillyc]

Most cars were impounded between 4pm and midnight, and one in five cars was locked up on a Saturday.

Wow, one in five cars on a Saturday which is just one of seven days...

What a dumb statistic.

Just goes to show they keep looking at the wrong end of the 'problem'. Why not educate and train people? Because it will annoy too many voters who believe (wrongly) that they are better than average and they won't die because they stick to the speed limit.

[Kryton]

EDIT: time limit ran out

my first car was a 75 Mazda 929 so "hooning" couldn't really happen anyway.
maybe, people that have their cars taken off of them from hooning should be relegated to a weak 4 cylinder or a Smart car till they prove they are responsible. (and yes, speed limited - lets not start that debate either in this thread).
we have Alcohol interlocks...why not limit those that have proven themselves not to be capable of the responsibility of driving?

[vanman_75]

Just goes to show they keep looking at the wrong end of the 'problem'. Why not educate and train people? Because it will annoy too many voters who believe (wrongly) that they are better than average and they won't die because they stick to the speed limit.
__________________
and its been said again i think we need a million copies and send it to the idiots in power not a truer word spoken and as for the hooning hook in go to a remote place and go crazy all by your self and see if its the act or the audience you need .