P.M. cautions “show offs”

By Mata'afa Keni Lesa 01 August 2018, 12:00AM

Drivers commonly known as “boy racers” have been put on notice.

The Minister of Police, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, wants them to know they will be caught and made to face the full wrath of the law.

But he is not stopping there. He has also warned that the parents of these young people could be charged.

“This is reckless, it’s some kind of new thinking,” Tuilaepa said.

The Minister, who is also the Prime Minister, made the comment during his weekly media conference. It follows recent car crashes where speed and an element of boy racing are suspected. 

In response, the Police have launched a full investigation as well as a campaign as part of a bid to catch them.

“They are show offs,” Tuilaepa said. “You see when you do a burn out, there is a likelihood you will not be able to control the car when it spins out of control so that you end up flipping."

“So what happens in the end when they crash and die? The parents end up in tears and they suffer.”

Tuilaepa also blamed the parents squarely.

“The parents know exactly what their kids are up to and yet they just hand them vehicles so they can go and race on the road. That’s what amazes me,” Tuilaepa said.

 “My only interpretation is that these are the cars that parents have bought for them to use for racing. 

“From my observation, this is what happens when you have so much money that they end up making such silly decisions.

“But it’s unfair as it puts other lives at risk. This is why the Police have been alerted to monitor the streets where these races are taking place. But the real culprits are the parents of these children.”

Asked if parents would be charged, Tuilaepa said: “They should be charged. They are aiding the breaking of the law.”

The Prime Minister also expressed sadness that some parents allow their children “to do whatever they want without any control.”

“You see, it’s not really our business what they do with their cars but the problem is that they pose a risk to innocent members of the public through their stupidity on the road,” he said. 

“So the Police have now stepped up, they are monitoring all the streets.”

According the Minister, Police have captured some of them. He said they were caught racing on Vaea St., where a teenager recently crashed and died.

“Some people never learn, they keep doing it again and again.”

The Minister of Police used the opportunity to urge parents to pay attention to what their children are doing with cars. 

Last month, the Police launched an operation called “Speed Racers Operation.” The campaign aims to reduce the number of lives wasted through crashes caused by speeding and in some cases boy racing.

By Mata'afa Keni Lesa 01 August 2018, 12:00AM

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