Man arrested for allegedly driving sports car at 235 kph on highway

Those speed cameras actually work? They'd make a fortune if they gave everyone traveling over 80kph a ticket, which seems to be 80 percent of the drivers. A good number of those are traveling around 120 kph. (Not saying they should though.)

Police suspect that Shirai had repeatedly driven a car exceeding the speed limit on highways and other roads in the capital from 2015 to 2016, and showed provocative actions such as raising his middle finger toward the vehicle speed checking system

....winning?

 and showed provocative actions such as raising his middle finger toward the vehicle speed checking system.

And if this is supposed to be provacative HERE, they had better start arresting all the young hipsters who use it all the time in their concerts and photo-ops! Lol

Lock the idiot up! Repeat offender and a danger to eveyone else on the road. a year in jail and about 5 years without a license after that ought to smarten him up and serve as a good example to the like-minded. At 41 years old, there is no excuse and can be very little expectation that his behavior will improve without some serious penalty.

Germany does not have highway speed limit in many places, cars are far superior to what you see in Japan (mostly Kei junk and Sunday drivers in their hybrids) and nobody complains.

And so, Peter, your point being?

My point being that speed limit should not be applicable on the highway, especially at 4 am

A Dodge doing 235 clicks? Surely theyve got it wrong? Was it going downhill or something?! When I first read the headline I assumed it was gonna be a Nissan GTR!

In seriousness, I couldnt care less about this morons safety, but he could easily have killed innocent people. Lock him up for a bit to think about things, sieze and sell off the Dodge - and slap him with a driving ban for at least 10 years.

Just saying, but I doubt the unlimited sections of the autobahns have as many curves, ramps, and merges as the shutoko.

This is actually a pretty common practice. Every time I use the highway I see at least two twits racing at insanely dangerous speeds. Last year I had four Ferraris fly past me on the Higashi-Kanto highway. They were doing at least 200kph and weaving in and out if traffic. Speed limits seem to only be guidelines. However, I got a ticket for doing 75 in a 60 zone, which was a new duel-lane road in Chiba. I just got targeted for revenue.

Don't look now, Peter K, but Germany is trending away from autobahns and towards auto (diesel) bans in their largest cities. 70 cities in Germany have above average levels of poisonous NO gas and are considering prohibitions on diesel cars to help clean the air. Better trade up to a Kei car now while you still can!

Did 200kmp in my Gran Torino in Orange County while in high school. Afterwards, my friend and I looked at each other and agreed never to try it again. (Just many of "let"s never do this again"cases.)

Yep and wasn't it just the other day on another JT news bit. American cars do not sell well.

Right back on point.

As 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T owner my self. Pushing a Challenger to 235KPH on the Japanese highway is to fast. That is travelling at 146 MPH in an American car on Japanese roads with little room to hard break. I will admit I have taken my vehicle up to 120KPH on the highway with traffic. But that is far as I push it in my location. I am also in the Super-car/Italian Exotic Auto sales business and the guys driving my product on the highway at dangerous speeds is lunacy and pisses me off royally. This guy deserves everything that is coming to him. If he wanted the run quarter mile in his R/T then he should have done it on many of race tracks here in Japan. Then only himself and the car is at risk. Also the highway surfaces are terrible for high speeds. There is oil and debris everywhere and your going to kill yourself or someone else. Really stupid!

Confiscate the car for as long as his license is suspended. Repeat offenders forfeit their cars.

Was it a race?

If there is speed there are the young.

Police suspect that Shirai had repeatedly driven a car exceeding the speed limit on highways and other roads in the capital from 2015 to 2016, and showed provocative actions such as raising his middle finger toward the vehicle speed checking system.

Like a true American. They are just not used to the raw power of American muscle.

Charged 2years later!

well that certainly isnt so fast!

Shame justice hasn't been as swift as the car.

Finally, a little spice in Japan to wake us all up!

Sorry, Peter, but that speed is inappropriate for Japanese expressways. Keep it for the track.

"American sports car "

An oxymoron surely.

If he was driving an American muscle car and giving the finger to the camera, I trust he was properly outfitted with a dirty mustache and a mullet hairstyle.

While I think highways in Japan are inferior to German Autobahn, it states that he probably did it more than once, meaning he knows the road and where its ok to go fast. he even knows where the cams are installed...

As for killing innocent people as commented above, if you drive 70km in the inside lane of (probably) 3 lanes, its your own fault if you are being hit from behind.

Me, I drive limit+10km on normal roads, +20 on highways, which still feels slow comparing to many cars. Most other drivers, including my wife, always drive the same speed regardless of limits or weather. That is whats making it dangerous...

Harry_GattoToday  09:20 pm JST

"American sports car "

An oxymoron surely.

You completely neglected to blame Trump.

Try harder next time.

And might want to check in on the 10 fastest lap times at Nurburgring, Germany. You might be slightly disappointed to learn that several are held by inferior, racist, morbidly obese, ignorant American too-fat-to-play-sports cars.

The speed limits here are based on the traffic code from around 1965, I believe. Hence they are now testing higher speed limits in certain areas as a trial.

From my experience the highways in Japan are extremely well kept and can easily support a speed of 150KM/H. Considering the old highway codes were based on 1960's technology and everyone drives highly maintained cars, I believe it would make sense to raise the speed limits.

I do think that speed limits for K-Cars should be different than that of normal cars, in a similar fashion that trucks and buses shouldn't exceed a certain speed.

I believe the real danger in traffic is people running red lights. This is barely enforced in Japan and they must step up policing of this. This is especially true as pedestrians here are too engulfed in their music or smart phones to look out for dangers or oncoming traffic. They do not jay walk, but they also don't look when crossing the street.

DisillusionedToday 05:32 pm JST

This is actually a pretty common practice. Every time I use the highway I see at least two twits racing at insanely dangerous speeds. Last year I had four Ferraris fly past me on the Higashi-Kanto highway. They were doing at least 200kph and weaving in and out if traffic. Speed limits seem to only be guidelines. However, I got a ticket for doing 75 in a 60 zone, which was a new duel-lane road in Chiba. I just got targeted for revenue.

Only certain roads and highways are frequently patrolled. You have to know which ones.

Peter KToday 05:06 pm JST

Germany does not have highway speed limit in many places, cars are far superior to what you see in Japan (mostly Kei junk and Sunday drivers in their hybrids) and nobody complains.

Peter KToday 05:19 pm JST

My point being that speed limit should not be applicable on the highway, especially at 4 am

Whilst I agree with your general point of speed limits being too low, especially at 4:00AM, I don't agree with your argument.

K-Kars are junk cars, but what's the problem with hybrids? Besides, in Tokyo you'll find tons of German cars (I presume you are German from your comments) and other foreign cars.

Wow... what are the odds, given that there are so few U.S. cars in Japan, that this would happen? Also, I'm in the market for a Dodge Challenger. I'm kind of hoping they revoke his license and he puts the Challenger up for sale.

Should have driven a 700 hp Dodge Hellcat instead. The Charger is noting.

Saw this guy on the news this morning, smiling and chatting while in handcuffs. Looks like a typical street racer type with slicked hair, goatee and pit crew shirt.

I’m not sure about the Dodge Challenger, but I’ve driven a Chevy Camaro at 220, and the brakes are NOT meant to handle hard braking at that speed.

A conworker of mine just said to me, “he’s probably an American muscle salesman looking for free publicity.” But this guy also thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and Bin Laden and Gaddafi are still alive.

Side note, he had “Paint me dead Hell yeah” fingered in English in the dust on the rear spoiler.

The maximum speed limit in Japan in 100 km per hour on some expressways. Who needs a auto that can do twice that number? A K car is good enough when the speed limit for most drives in Japan is 60 km per hour. This man clearly has issues with authority.

@Yuri

Issues with authority, maybe. Judging by the way he was smiling and making small chat with the cops, giving the finger to camera, he seems like the kind of guy who thinks it’s all a game.

“So you caught me. Good job, officers. Gotta admit I had a good run for 2 years. What’s that? Only 235? Gotta recalibrate your radars. I was doing at least 250.”

I imagine the conversation with the arresting officer was something like that.

"A Dodge doing 235 clicks? Surely theyve got it wrong?"

You are kidding right? The top of line Challenger has 707 hp!!!! ENTRY level has 395hp. Top speed? 320 km/h!

The GT-R are governed, computer locked with GPS and can not come anywhere close to those speeds on public roads, only when the GPS detects you are at a sanctioned racetrack will the car be "unlocked" to its true power, which "only" has a top speed of 317, slower than the Dodge. (Don't get me wrong I would take the GT-R over the Dodge any day)

Almost everyone here is has assumed that he is guilty as charged, and passed judgement already.

hehe, worth a try mate.

One of the few American cars I'd buy. The Charger is pretty wicked too. Reckless to do that on the highway so go to the speedways if you want to max it out. Don't risk other people's lives.

Hahahah! On the weekend news highlights they mentioned that the Dodge Charger was featured in “The Fast and Furious.”

Should’ve also mentioned that the stars of that movie were a Nissan Skyline, Toyota Supra and Honda Civic.

Dodge Challenger. Surprised it didn't fall apart.

Nice to see at least three Nissan Skyline GTR fans here! :8)

I once did 180 mph (288kph) in mine, measured off the satellite, but it took a mile and a half to reach that; the dashboard clock was showing over 200 mph (320 kph). At those speeds you do not have much ability to manoevre, and you could wreck a set of ordinary brakes if you need to stop quickly. But it sounds as if the guy chose the time and the place, if it was indeed he at the wheel. Get your kicks on Route 66!

(Oh, and no, it was not on the public road.)

A 41-year-old man was arrested Thursday for allegedly driving an American sports car at 235 kilometers per hour and showed provocative actions such as raising his middle finger toward the vehicle speed checking system.

Go speed racer, GO!

But if he denies that it was him driving because he couldn't recognize the image of the driver, and without a front plate, doesn't he know that the cozzers could simply check the registration of the car and easily end his denial claim?

Whats the point of spending mega bucks upon a car that you can't drive to it's full potential ?

Does Japan have any race tracks where individuals can pay to run around as fast as they like without endangering the rest of us ?