Yesterday a Glenrowan P-plater was caught by police driving at 177km/h in a 100km/h zone at Winton.

Police warned the driver was going so fast that if he had made any mistake at the wheel, he would have died and any other driver caught in his path might have died also.

The young driver’s excuse was that he was running late for work in Benalla.

On the same day magistrate Megan Greenwood dealt another young driver a serious lesson in Albury Local Court, sentencing him to 18 months in jail on three charges including a high-speed pursuit that was terminated for safety reasons.

The 25-year-old had driven through five red lights and exceeded the speed limit by more than 100km/h, with Ms Greenwood describing him as a risk to the community.

In both cases, fortunately the worst has not happened and these drivers haven’t been killed or seriously injured.

But too often young drivers die, devastating their families and their friends.

Those who speed must understand the serious consequences of their actions.