Kapiti Mana Police and the Kapiti Coast District Council are joining forces with local businesses to hold a ‘Street Racer’ information afternoon in Paraparaumu next month.
Support from Paraparaumu Airport Limited means that the event will be held on Saturday, 14 June, from 1pm to 4pm on land at the eastern end of the airport -- accessed off Kapiti Road.
A ‘Show and Shine’ with prizes for the best vehicles, specialist police patrol cars and equipment, static road safety displays, material from Vehicle Testing New Zealand and motor trade companies Repco and Mag and Turbo Warehouse will showcase the information afternoon.
Inspector John Spence, Kapiti Mana Area Controller, says the event’s focus is on safe and positive driving behaviour plus information about the new street racer legislation which came into effect on 2 May.
The only practical driving component of the afternoon will be police vehicles and radar equipment.
"The information afternoon is an opportunity for street racers to mix with police, vehicle testing officers, engineers and others involved in road safety and the motor trade to find out what’s legal, what’s not and hear our thoughts about acceptable road behaviours," he says.
The idea stems from a meeting between the street racing fraternity and police which was organised by Cr Kathy Spiers in conjunction with Sue Johnson, the Kapiti Coast District Council’s Road Safety Co-ordinator, the night the legislation came into effect. Those present wanted to find out more about vehicle modification standards and the effect of vehicle impoundments.
Sixteen vehicles have been impounded in the Wellington Police District since the legislation came into force.
"It’s a good time to host the event as the movie 2 Fast and 2 Furious opens in cinemas just two days earlier," Mr Spence says. "We know the movie will attract a lot of interest from car enthusiasts so it’s timely to reinforce some safe driving practices.
"The roadside crosses scattered along State Highway 1 between Wellington and Paraparaumu are a poignant reminder of what can happen on the road.
"Kapiti Mana Police is proactively targeting speedsters and drivers who don’t wear their seatbelts to reduce the number of fatal or serious injury crashes on our roads," he says.
"Local bylaws are helping to limit the street racer numbers in Porirua but it is a problem elsewhere.
"We’re very pleased to have the support of the Kapiti Coast District Council, Paraparaumu Airport and other businesses in organising the information afternoon initiative."