Latest News Stories

Boy racers targeted by road safety officers in Cheshire

09/02/07

Boy racers in the north-west could now face more than speeding fines and car insurance rate hikes if they race each other around the city streets, after Cheshire police revealed it had begun seizing the vehicles of offenders.
 
Despite the fact that it is illegal to break local speed limits and run red lights, a number of car insurance customers in the town of Sandbach have been committing both of these road safety offences and more.
 
However, local policing officers have recently gained new enforcement powers to clamp down on motorists who deliberately race each other.
 
And implementation of these measures has enabled the local constabulary to seize two vehicles caught breaking the limit on February 2nd and February 3rd 2007.
 
Meanwhile, two further offenders were given statutory warnings by the police and several other vehicles were issued with speeding tickets and informal warnings for not wearing seatbelts.
 
Inspector Mark Gammage, head of the Congleton Borough neighbourhood policing unit, reiterated the road safety implications of racing fellow motorists.
 
"The danger they present to other road users, as well as themselves, is obvious," he said.
 
"The associated nuisance that it causes other road users and local residents is not acceptable and will be dealt with. Legislation now allows us to seize vehicles being used in an anti-social manner."
 
Traditionally, motorists who race each other on city streets late at night tend to be relatively young.
 
Last month, the Times reported that the Department for Transport was considering recommending legislation that obliged learner drivers to take formal tuition before their driving tests.
 
It was hoped that this would improve awareness of road safety issues among younger motorists, which could potentially have implications for young driver car insurance rates in the future.
 
Searching for young driver car insurance online? visit Dial Direct