I was very interested to read Diana Campion's letter headlined 'Close shave on dangerous road' (Sunday Morning Post, May 20) about her experience of 'boy racers' on Repulse Bay Road. I have had a similarly disturbing, if not seemingly as life-threatening, encounter with them.
I was driving along Repulse Bay Road at about 11.30, one night towards the end of April. I had to stop at one of the ubiquitous roadworks. As I waited at the lights, four or five cars pulled up behind me revving up their engines in a quite unnecessary and excited fashion.
The traffic lights turned to green and as I pulled away the car immediately behind tried to overtake on what in the space of about 18 metres was becoming a single track. He continued to try and pass me, but despite his menacing tailgating I refused to drive faster than a safe speed. The driver eventually succeeded in overtaking on a blind corner on the approach to Chung Hom Kok and then, presumably in his frustration at being inconvenienced by someone driving within the speed limit, he proceeded to slow right down to about 25 km/h with the 'jolly' band behind continuing to rev up their engines right behind me. I can only assume that they either wanted me to attempt to overtake the front car so it could 'boy race' me, or they were attempting to intimidate me. I began to feel they were (successfully) trying the latter, as there were no other cars around. This went on for what seemed ages but was probably only about six or seven minutes, until I rapidly turned off to my driveway on Tai Tam Road. I was absolutely furious and a little shaken.
My apartment looks down on to Tai Tam Road and about 10 minutes later I saw them racing back and into Stanley.
I have seen this behaviour for years, have seen the crashes and the car wrecks when they skid into Tai Tam Reservoir, usually with fatal consequences and have been overtaken by them on dangerous roads, often coming back from Shek O from a family evening out with the children in the back. But until that night, I had never had the full 'joy' of experiencing their sad, nasty and extremely dangerous games.
I totally agree with Ms Campion that there needs to be more policing of this activity and better warning signs all round on this busy road.