‘Lives will be lost’
Thursday, 14 August 2008
ANTI-SOCIAL motoring in Ballycastle will be targeted by police officers this weekend as some residents continue to be troubled by speeding and noisy cars.
The fight against nuisance motorists has been ongoing throughout the district in recent months, and police will once again take Operation Furious to Moyle roads in an attempt to deter this behaviour.
One Ballycastle resident has told The Chronicle that anti-social motoring continues to be a major problem in the town.
The resident who lives in ground floor accommodation on Quay Road says he regularly observes speeding and tail-gating along the route, with no apparent deterrents in place.
In a letter to Moyle police in June, the resident wrote: "Since I moved to Ballycastle over a year ago, I have been very concerned at the total disregard for safety and the speed limit by a number of vehicles. In time, unless there is control by the authorities, there will be a serious accident, quite possibly resulting in loss of life."
In one incident, which took place on Monday, August 4, he said he observed two cars tail-gatting within a few feet of each other while travelling at a speed in excess of 50mph in torrential rain.
On the same night, he saw a driver overtake a speeding car.
He said: "I fail to understand the very dangerous situation which is allowed to continue, in spite of correspondence with the Ballycastle Police, and a public meeting when Sergeant Shaw, as he then was, who told those present that the matter was in hand and with new technology, offenders would be brought to justice, and the speeding controlled.
“It seems to me that there must be some secret agenda which allows vehicles to be driven at very high speeds, up and down Quay Road, and no doubt other roads throughout the province.
“Speed cameras as one drives into Ballycastle are sometimes in evidence, but never seen by me, on Quay Road.
“At Quay Road, cars are allowed to travel at excessive speeds, sometimes tail-gating.
“The concern has been raised by many residents and I believe that there are full proof methods of charging culprits through the Courts.
The gentlemen, who has 14 years experience as a Lay Panelist in Youth and Family Proceedings Courts in Belfast and other towns in the Province, believes that for young people, the disposals are of "little consequence".
“It's much better to try and control by education and the fear of being caught behaving in a very dangerous way," he said.
