A motorcyclist who reached 111mph on a road frequently used by pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders has been banned from driving for three years, with a magistrate saying anyone who saw him would have been “absolutely shocked and horrified”.
Andrew Franco (29) was sentenced to 170 hours of community service and was disqualified from driving for 36 months. He will have to retake his driving test before he drives again.
Centenier Joao Camara, prosecuting, described how honorary police officers were on patrol on Route de l’Ouest.
Franco, he said, was caught riding his motorbike at 111 mph over 100 metres.
He was charged with speeding, dangerous driving and failing to notify a change of address. The speeding charge was later dropped in the Magistrate’s Court in favour of the more serious charge.
Advocate John Borg, defending, said his client had stopped right away, made full admissions, and cooperated with the police.
“Likely to result in… fatal consequences”
The incident was “a serious but brief incident of excessive speed”, he said, adding that there was “genuine acceptance of responsibility”.
Handing down the verdict, Relief Magistrate David Cadin told Franco: “Anyone seeing you travelling at that speed would have been absolutely shocked and horrified and appalled.”
He stressed that the road was busy and that an accident “would have been likely to result in life-threatening or fatal consequences”.
In a statement, the States of Jersey Police said: “Higher vehicle speeds significantly increase the likelihood of death or serious injury to all road users. Excessive speed reduces a driver’s or rider’s ability to spot and react to hazards, increases stopping distances, and reduces the protection offered by vehicle safety features and road safety infrastructure.
“A moment of poor judgement can have life-changing consequences not only for the rider, but for innocent members of the public and their families.”
“We would like to thank Centenier Robert Hall and the wider Honorary Police for their continued dedication to keeping Jersey safe. Honorary officers volunteer their time to serve their parish communities, and their contribution to our Island is invaluable.”
“Proactive approach prevented what could have had devastating consequences”
Centenier Hall added: “Road safety enforcement requires a significant amount of time, commitment and visibility, and often comes down to being in the right place at the right time. On this occasion, that proactive approach prevented what could have had devastating consequences.”
“People often think they can take a chance, but it simply isn’t worth it. Travelling at 111mph in a 40mph limit is an extreme example of the dangerous decisions that continue to place lives at risk on our roads.”
“The Honorary Police are proud to work alongside the States of Jersey Police Community Safety Team to help keep our roads safe. By sharing local knowledge, intelligence and information from the public, we can focus our efforts where they are needed most.”
