Police summons driver filmed overtaking dangerously on Whakapapa Access Rd, car impounded

A driver filmed doing a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre on a road to the Whakapapa ski fields has had his car impounded and is due to appear in court in October.

The 40-year-old Auckland man has been summonsed after a shuttle driver captured the incident early on Saturday morning on his dashcam.

The manager for the Commercial Vehicle and Safety Team, Inspector Mike Brooklands, said the driver was able to be identified by information from the oncoming vehicle.

“Police identified and located the driver as a result of information provided by the driver of the oncoming vehicle, and we’d like to thank them for passing information on to us.”

The man was due in the Taumarunui District Court on October 16. The vehicle had also been impounded for 28 days.

An Auckland man's car has been impounded and he has been summonsed to court after he was filmed overtaking dangerously.

Footage of the incident from Saturday shared with the Herald showed the man’s silver VW Golf overtaking a shuttle and narrowly avoiding a head-on collision with a Mercedes-Benz station wagon, requiring the oncoming vehicle to make room and the shuttle to brake.

“As I was coming up the road towards Scoria Flat, someone decided ‘oh yeah, you’re in a bus, you’re going slow, I’ll overtake you’,” shuttle driver Colin Baker told the Herald.

“As usual, you get one person try it and then the vehicles behind followed it,” he said.

The first car passed him safely and the second vehicle had a lot less time, he said.

“And then I spotted this car coming down the hill. So, I thought the second vehicle going by was a bit close.”

Incredibly, a third vehicle accelerates past the shuttle.

Baker said it was fortunate that the oncoming vehicle was doing “a sensible speed”.

He had 14 passengers on board who witnessed the dangerous driving, gasping in shock.

“They were mad. As we were going through the carpark, we were looking for the vehicle, because they were not happy at all with the driver. They just thanked me for not hitting it,” said Baker.

Brooklands said drivers should use passing lanes when they are available, or otherwise ensure there is ample clear road ahead before attempting to overtake.

“This kind of unsafe driving puts both other motorists and the occupants of the overtaking car themselves at risk of serious injury or worse.

“In order to overtake safely, drivers need to ensure it is legal and safe to pass,” he said.