A coroner has reminded road users that "public highways are not racetracks" following a fatal motorcycle crash in rural Southland.
On November 17, 2018, Timothy James Meers, 50, died when he overtook a vehicle at an estimated speed of 160kmh on Riverton Otautau Rd and collided with Russell Allan Blackford, 41, who was riding south to visit his sister in Colac Bay.
Mr Meers was participating in a charity run organised by the Southern Brotherhood Motorcycle Club, which involved about 200 motorcyclists and 40 classic cars.
Rules of the event, expected behaviour and the proposed route were discussed.
Despite this, many members of the charity event, including Mr Meers, drove in a dangerous manner.
Mr Meers attempted to overtake several vehicles as he was approaching the intersection of Fairfax Isla Bank Rd and Riverton Otautau Rd.
He was approaching a bend in the road, "rising to a brow".
Witnesses said while Mr Meers was travelling in the middle of the wrong lane, they saw his motorcycle begin to "fishtail" when he braked, which caused his back wheel to lock.
He lost control of his vehicle and it rotated and collided with Mr Blackford’s oncoming motorcycle.
Both riders died at the scene.
Mr Blackford’s sister, Paula Smith, said the two riders were friends who had known each other since earlier in 2018.
She previously told the Otago Daily Times her brother was loved by many.
"I’ve searched for someone to say something bad about him, there’s just no-one.
"He made friends and he kept them."
Her brother had been passionate about motorcycles his entire life, she said.
"He didn’t have a partner [and] he didn’t have any children but he had his motorbikes and he had his cats.
"His motorbikes were everything."
Coroner Robin Kay found that "the collision occurred because Mr Meers, riding at excessive speed, was on the ‘wrong’ side of the road while negotiating a bend which he could not clearly see around".
"Too many motorists are dying on New Zealand’s roads as a direct result of the poor decisions they, or, as in this case, other road users make," he said in his decision.
"Public highways are not racetracks."
He recommended motorists who wanted to drive at high speeds participate in "track days" or a race series arranged by a reputable organisation.
