Colac Sergeant Dale Menzies said Highway Patrol offices caught the 20-year-old Lara male driving west at 172 kilometres an hour in a 100 km/h stretch of highway at Warncoort on Tuesday afternoon.

"Clearly at that speed they are endangering their own life and everybody else's who is using the road," Sergeant Menzies said.

"It's an outrageous speed and there is no excuse for anyone to be driving that quickly."

He said police impounded the vehicle, which belonged to a friend of the driver, for 30 days.

Sergeant Menzies said the driver provided a preliminary oral fluid test but refused to provide an evidentiary oral fluid test.

He said the driver would be summonsed to the Colac Magistrates Court at a later date.

Colac Highway Patrol are appealing for witnesses to call n 52 32 8200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.