Fresh crackdown on boy racers is underway in Mayo
A FRESH crackdown on boy racers is underway in Mayo
CCTV cameras are now being used to help catch culprits.
Trademark 'doughnuts' are increasingly visible across the country, leaving local authorities with the burden of repairing the damage.
It could be anywhere from €500 to €1,200 to repair demaged roads surfaces.
The CCTV cameras are placed with signage at known locations where this behaviour is taking place and the video footage with the offenders on it is forwarded to the Gardai.
Residents say that their lives have been turned into ‘a living nightmare’ by the young nuisance drivers racing, skidding, honking horns, flashing lights and blaring loud music.
They fear someone will be killed or injured unless they stop.
"They will spin the car round and round and round in the junction four, five times creating a huge screeching noise, burning rubber," one resident revealed
"I really don't know how they can afford to keep replacing the tyres on the cars.”
Noel Gibbons, Mayo Road Safety Officer, said “While the tyre marks are vandalising public property, the dangers posed are of much more concern.
“There is also an issue of parental responsibility involved here and I would appeal directly to the parents of these drivers to stop turning a blind eye to what’s going on and do not allow their son or daughter access to a vehicle who is engaging in this behaviour.
“Thirty-eight per cent of those killed on our roads last year were under 25 years of age. We want young people to be aware of their speed, and our message is if you must speed take it on to a race track. There is also the fear that these cars could get a blow out on their way home after doing these donuts on the road”
Councillor Mr. Michael Loftus said it was good news for the fight against anti-social behaviour on the county's roads.
“The focus is very much on anti-social behaviour and just dealing with the issues that makes peoples' lives miserable, I have been approached by tourists staying in the area who complained about the disturbance at all hours of the night and would have reservations about returning on holidays to the area. We are working very closely with the Gardai on this issue who are very proactive in dealing with this issue.”
“Another challenge gardai face is the reluctance of local residents to report this type of driving, We are asking people to report these things but if they rely on other people and don't do it themselves the problem will continue. The more reports we receive the more we can do something about it.”