A Chinese driver who collided with another car on the Crown Range road was a ''classic case'' of why tourists should sit a driving test, Judge Kevin Phillips said in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
He was sentencing Yichen Sun (27), of Shanghai, who admitted a charge of dangerous driving relating to two incidents near Queenstown earlier this month.
Speaking through an interpreter, Judge Phillips told Sun his driving was ''nothing short of atrocious''.
''You were all over the road for no reason, you were drifting around corners, cutting corners and crossing the centreline.
''It's a classic case of why people need to have examinations done before taking control of powerful rental cars on New Zealand roads.''
Sun was convicted and fined $600, with court costs $130, and disqualified from driving for eight months.
He had to pay the fine immediately if he wanted to board his flight to China today.
Sergeant Ian Collin said Sun was driving a rental vehicle in Gorge Rd on November 6 when a member of the public saw him overtake a rubbish truck, which was indicating to turn right.
The complainant told police Sun was driving erratically and ''braking for no apparent reason''.
Later that afternoon, Sun was driving on the Crown Range road when he crossed the centreline by about 2m and collided with an oncoming car, causing moderate damage to both vehicles but no injuries.
Duty solicitor Tim Cadogan said Sun accepted the Crown Range road was ''beyond his skill level''.
