Hooning donkeys

It is rare to see a bad news story about young women drivers. Usually, with perceptions of reckless young male drivers abounding, we, in comparison, come out looking whiter than a pair of David Beckham’s Armani briefs.

That’s why when reading a news story this week, which was headlined “Young women the worst speeding drivers on beaches” I had to do a double take.

Er, no, I think that should read “men”. Sub editors these days, rubbish.

But no, scanning down the article, I found that there exists a whole culture of girl racers, well, in New Zealand anyway.

It seems that these girl “hooners”, as the Kiwi press has christened them, can’t resist the thrill of the open beachfront.

“[These young women] drive fast in the sand because they are concerned about getting stuck. They don't seem to be able to drive to the conditions,” said one police officer.

He also said that the problem was so bad that the police appear to have given up hope. An officer who has patrolled the Waitarere and Foxton beaches for six years said, “We cannot do much about speeding. I have warned over 100 drivers. It is mainly having the police presence on the beach."

I must confess, I myself have form on the beachfront front. When I was at the tender age of seven, enjoying a mid-summer’s day in Blackpool, I suddenly, rudely, found myself clutching for dear life onto the neck of the most cross and uncooperative high-velocity donkey I imagine the world has ever seen.

Speeding donkeys are quite enough for me, so on behalf of CoverGirl car insurance, can I use this opportunity to say just how much I hope the beach hoons don’t make it to Britain.