THANK you for the article on hoons (Gazette, 2 February).
I live on the corner of Henry Road and Bluehills Boulevard, Pakenham.
Since moving here from New South Wales in June 2009 it has been an on-going problem.
I have contacted the police on a number of occasions and they have been helpful and empathetic. Each time they have cruised around the area and it has deterred the hoons for a while.
I realise that the police are inundated with complaints and are doing their best to deter the hoons. The impounding of vehicles for 14 days should be a deterrent, but I feel that it should be enforced as soon as possible. They should also have to pay a sizeable fine.
The police suggested that I try to get the registration plate of the culprits but unless I am standing out the front it is not feasible.
They do wheelies and burnouts any hour of the day and night.
My partner has to get up at 5.15am and his sleep is interrupted. They seem to be worse when it rains as the road is more slippery!
One driver, possibly a hoon, actually went into the steel fence of the primary school, knocking it down and making huge grooves in the grass.
We were not home on that occasion, but it would have been frightening and highly dangerous for other motorists or pedestrians.
On many occasions I have been woken up with a start when they are doing burnouts. One night a hoon did about five burnouts and I thought he had crashed. I fear that innocent motorists will be involved as well as pedestrians. They speed along Henry Road past the primary school where children and parents are picking up and dropping off. Children also walk home along this road.
Recently gravel had fallen from a truck and the corner became even more dangerous when the hoons weren’t aware of it or saw it and a chance to enhance a burnout.
The hoons speed up to the corner along Bluehills Boulevard past a day care centre and also speed from Henry Road into Bluehills Boulevard.
When I have been gardening they have often hooned around the corner. I fear for any pedestrians. One takes their life in their own hands when crossing Henry Road as many drivers race along in both directions.
The noise level is not acceptable and is worse on Friday and Saturday nights and the rubber left on the road is a blight on the area.
Thank you for bringing this problem to the attention of the community and for allowing me the opportunity to convey the problem in my area. It is my opinion that driver training has to be reviewed to include input regarding attitude and the many scenarios that a driver can encounter. Instructors should stress the responsibility that a driver takes on their own safety and that of others.
I don’t agree with parents teaching their children to drive as their attitude is passed on to the learner. I have been surprised to note that hoon driving is not the domain of the youth.
I have been really surprised to see many women and older men of Pakenham hooning.
Name and address supplied.
Editor’s note: The Gazette has a policy of naming all letter writers, but has waived that requirement in this case because of fears of repercussions.
