Speedster blames shoelaces

A man clocked driving at nearly 160 km/h claimed his shoelace became caught in the accelerator, the Nelson District Court was told.

Lance Clifford Reese-Jones, 42, admitted a charge of dangerous driving.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Johnston said Reese-Jones was stopped after overtaking two vehicles at 159 km/h on September 24.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Haig said Reese-Jones found his foot was "trapped with the accelerator depressed" by the shoelace after he overtook a truck.

He kept driving, at speed, to put some distance between the two vehicles while he tried to fix the problem.

Judge Susan Thomas said the events sounded "unusual to say the least". She convicted Reese-Jones and disqualified him from driving for six months but chose not to impose a fine.

- NZPA