Rafaele Raikadroka: Man fined after driving 156km/h in average speed zone along Forrest Highway in Binningup

A 26-year-old man has been sentenced after being caught driving almost 50km/h over the speed limit down a busy highway in the State’s south. Rafaele Raikadroka was convicted in his absence at Harvey Magistrates Court on November 14 after submitting an endorsed plea of guilty for one count of reckless driving after exceeding a speed of 155km/h or more. Police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Connolly told the court Mr Raikadroka was driving a Toyota commuter van on Forrest Highway in Binningup when he was caught driving at 156km/h in a 110km/h zone. The speed was confirmed by the fixed point-to-point speed cameras in place on the highway between Noble Street and the Old Coast Road turnoff. Mr Raikadroka made full admissions about the incident when questioned at Harvey Police Station on October 24. He told officers, “I was tired and wanted to get home”. In further remarks read out in court, Mr Raikadroka said he had been picking friends up at the time the incident occurred. In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Linda Keane said while the defendant may have been driving at slower speeds at times along Forrest Highway, there was also the possibility he could have been driving faster than 156km/h at other times. “The explanation, if anything, aggravates the matter,” she said. “It is appalling, selfish and dangerous behaviour.” Mr Raikadroka was disqualified from driving for six months, fined $1800 and ordered to pay $264.30 in police prosecution costs.