Call to put the brakes on ‘idiot’ lockdown racers
BOY racers are taking advantage of the lockdown to turn Rochdale’s roads into race tracks, it has been claimed.
A councillor has said it’s about time dangerous drivers faced the consequences of their actions after a spike in speeding and anti-social driving, despite lockdown restrictions.
Councillor Andy Kelly, leader of the Rochdale Borough Council Liberal Democrats, said that “idiot” drivers were taking advantage of empty roads as “sensible people” have followed instructions to take only essential travel.
Recent examples include a car travelling at 115mph on a 40mph road, and one reaching speeds of 129mph on the M62.
Almost 60 incidents of anti-social driving were picked up by Greater Manchester Police in the Rochdale area on a single night last Friday (17th April)
It comes after the Pennine Neighbourhood team of GMP Rochdale were in the Milnrow and Newhey area over the weekend targeting speeding vehicles.
Coun Kelly, who represents Milnrow and Newhey ward, said: “What on Earth are they doing out under these circumstances? It certainly doesn’t sound like essential travel.
“It beggars belief when people are out doing this on a Friday night. What are you doing out of your houses people, stay at home!”
He added that he hoped clearer roads would make it easier for police to catch criminals stealing cars for joy-rides, as well as the culprits behind the drag racing which he says was already a regular occurrence in Milnrow even before lockdown.
Coun Kelly said: “For those stupid enough to be doing it, we need them to be caught.”
He added: “Your chances of getting caught are going to multiply massively, so don’t do it!”
The Pennine Neighbourhood team of GMP Rochdale were in the Milnrow and Newhey area targeting speeding vehicles, as well as patrolling burglary hotspots and looking out for antisocial behaviour.
The news comes after a spike in speeding across Greater Manchester has been reported since the start of the coronavirus lockdown as traffic has dropped and roads have cleared.
Recently published figures show that police have recorded 6,200 incidences of drivers breaking the speed limit since lockdown began on March 23, an increase of 57 per cent from before the government introduced a range of measures to help combat the spread of coronavirus including avoiding all but essential travel.
Earlier this month, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins slammed drivers for treating the region’s largely empty roads like a ‘race track’ and driving at ‘ludicrous’ speeds.
He warned that rogue drivers were putting lives at risk.
“Please, treat the roads safely because if you are in an accident it is tying up NHS resources and it’s tying up our resource and it’s putting everybody at risk of further infection”, Mr Hopkins added. “I have been seeing this on the roads since the weekend,” Mr Hopkins said last week.
“I have asked for more enforcement by Greater Manchester Police Traffic.
“Just because the roads are unusually quiet it’s not an excuse to drive like a maniac and put others at risk.”
Checkpoints have also been set up across the region, where police are stopping vehicles and asking why they are making their journeys.
Officers have been giving people ‘strong advice’ to return home, but also have the power to fine people if they feel it is necessary.
Councillor Faisal Rana, who has previously been active on the issue of speeding drivers in his ward of Spotland and Falinge, said there was no excuse for drivers breaking the speed limit, even if roads are currently clearer.
Coun Rana said: “We need to make sure that we keep the focus on and stick to the limits as much as we can.
“We’re in difficult times nowadays and sometimes people’s loved ones are sick or recovering from something and their attention is diverted, but that should not be an excuse.”
Superintendent Julie Ellison from GMP’s Specialist
Operations Team said: “In this current climate, keeping the pressure off our emergency services is so important whilst they keep the public safe and well.
“If someone is speeding and they have a collision, this will take up vital resources including NHS, fire and the police.”
She added: “The speed limits are there to save lives and should always be adhered to.”
While police are upping patrols in hotspot areas, Coun Rana emphasised that all drivers should stay aware and alert when driving on deserted roads to avoid accidentally going over the speed limit.
He added: “I have noticed myself, because more and more roads are empty now, some of these guys are intentionally speeding up but others might be driving and they don’t realise that they’re overstepping the mark and speeding up.”
Coun Rana, who was previously behind the introduction of speed guns and later radar street signs on Rooley Moor Road as well as the designation of Cutgate and Greave as 20mph zones, added that he would be having a video meeting with ward PCs on Thursday (April 23) to discuss the recent increase in off road bikers on his ward’s surrounding moors.