Diary - A fine mess

26th February 2010, 12:00am

Teenagers can get a little overexcited when they first pass their driving test. Speeding along with music blaring is almost a rite of passage for newly-qualified drivers.

But whatever misdemeanours they get up to pale into insignificance against those of one Saudi Arabian student, who has racked up no less than 400 traffic violations since 2008. The unnamed student is facing fines of the equivalent of #163;62,000 for a string of traffic offences including speeding and parking offences, all garnered from driving in the neighbouring Gulf state of Dubai.

Police have confiscated his licence and impounded his 4x4, which will cost #163;17,000 to release.