Police to conduct anti-social driving initiative

3rd July 2015

Police in Thurso have planned an initiative to tackle a prevalent anti-social driving issue in the Thurso town centre, following reports from members of the public.

Acting Inspector Marlene MacDonald said: "As part Operation Route, which aims to engage, advise and educate road users with a view to preventing crime, road collisions and road casualties, local officers and those from the Divisional Roads Policing Unit will be seeking to deter people from driving in an anti-social manner, and where appropriate, take enforcement action on anyone found to be committing road traffic offences.

"The initiative, which begins this Friday (3rd July), will be conducted during the month of July before concluding on 1st August. Particular attention will be paid to the streets in an around the Thurso town centre and the A9 along Scrabster Road. Police activity will include static speed checks, vehicle inspection check points and mobile patrols.

"The following types of offences will be targeted during this initiative; speeding, careless and inconsiderate driving, racing, the use of a decibel meter for any vehicles found to have exhausts which emit excessive noise, inappropriate use of horns, driver not having proper control of the vehicle due to their driving position, dangerous use of a vehicle, dangerous carriage of passengers, vehicle defects and ensuring that all drivers have the correct documentation in place for driving their respective vehicles."

A/Inspector MacDonald continued: "For any offences detected, officers will utilise a variety of measures at their disposal, such as seizure of vehicles being repeatedly driven in a careless manner, fixed penalty notices; with and without the endorsement of driver licence penalty points, the vehicle defect rectification scheme and where appropriate, the submission of a police report to the Procurator Fiscal for consideration of prosecution.

"It is recognised that the vast majority of road users in Thurso are considerate and respectful of others; however, there are a small minority who repeatedly and continually drive in an anti-social manner. The behaviour of these latter individuals causes a disproportionate and detrimental effect on the quality of life of those living in and near to the Thurso town centre. Those within the hospitality industry have also reported a negative effect of these ongoing circumstances with guests from local hotels in Thurso complaining of noise.

"This culture of constant cruising around the Thurso town centre, whilst creating excessive noise through loud exhausts or the unnecessary revving of engines and general poor driver behaviour, will no longer be tolerated and it is this small minority who choose to drive in this manner that police are looking to target."