An alarming number of anti-social behaviour car meets have been taking place across the UK with October seeing peak figures.
The stats revealed by the AA found that in the year to October, 484 car meets or car cruises took place with police now on the lookout to stop the illegal gatherings.
Car meets are popular events where drivers gather to showcase their vehicles and often include racing on residential roads and public highways.
The number of meets has been on the slow decline from 503 recorded unauthorised car meets last year but police warn they are still persistent.
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Police can issue £2,500 fines for street racing
PA
Figures obtained from a Freedom of Information request found that Nottinghamshire Police saw the largest number of car meets this year with 134 recorded. Gwent Police in Wales saw 130 incidents this year, a shocking increase from 96 events in 2022 and 52 the year before.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA said: “It is deeply concerning that these cruises are being used by some to drive dangerously, and in some cases causing harm to bystanders and damaging property.”
The AA report revealed that one in 10 members had witnessed a car meet in their neighbourhood over the last 12 months.
Across the UK, the South East region saw a 14 per cent increase followed by West Midlands (12 per cent), East Midlands and Eastern England (both 11 per cent).
Meanwhile, eight out of 10 AA members warned that the consequence of car meets includes excess noise, while 71 per cent explained they have seen more vehicles racing on the roads.
According to UK law, the penalties for street racing can be severe with fines of £2,500 or in some cases a three-month prison sentence.
The maximum penalties for street racing can be determined under Schedule 3 of The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 and include a sentence of up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to £50,000, or in some cases both.
Cousens added: “Far from the cry of legal car meet events, where enthusiasts show off their pride and joy, these anti-social pop-up cruises are causing havoc and chaos within neighbourhoods.”
Worryingly, a quarter of AA members revealed the impact of street racing in the local area with more damaged streetlights and signposts as a direct result of the gatherings.
Cousens explained that many events are arranged on social media to keep police in the “dark until frustrated residents’ phone up to report the activities”. He warned: “Even then, it is a mixed picture regarding if the police will show up to disperse the meet.”
One way to tackle the problem is to have more police in cars who can attend and disperse the crowd, he suggested.
The AA has also called on the Government’s road safety strategy to hire 1,000 more traffic officers to help improve road safety and police the roads.
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Drivers can be fined under Schedule 3 of The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988
PA
Edmund King OBE, AA president commented: “It is tragic that road deaths have plateaued over the last decade after a period of sharp decline. These deaths are totally unnecessary and should not be happening.
“We have safer vehicles; we should have safer roads and safer drivers. It is a scandal that five people per day die on our roads. This is totally unacceptable.”
