The High Court has granted local authorities in the Black Country, including Sandwell, a full and final injunction banning car cruising, or street racing, on local roads.
This dangerous behaviour has blighted local roads in recent years, posing a danger to local residents and other road users, as well as causing significant disruption that is affecting local people's lives.
Nicola has been campaigning for tougher action to tackle this type of behaviour on roads like Kenrick Way in West Bromwich.
West Midlands Police have a dedicated operation aimed at car cruising, but rely on injunctions from the courts to give them the power of arrest over those who are participating.
A temporary injunction has been in places for some time, but the final injunction will ensure that the powers are granted to the police for good.
Activities banned in the junction include but are not limited to:
- Burnouts” – causing a vehicle to destroy its tyres by applying power to the drive wheels while braking so as to remain in place while the wheels revolve at speed
- “Donuts/Donutting” – causing a vehicle to rotate around a fixed point (normally the front axle) while not moving-off causing noise, smoke and tyre marks to be created
- “Drifting” – turning by placing the vehicle in a skid so that most sideways motion is due to the skid not any significant steering input
- “Undertaking” – Passing a vehicle on its nearside so as to overtake in circumstances not permitted by the Highway Code.
Commenting, Nicola said: "I'm pleased that a full injunction has been passed banning car cruising across the Black Country.
"This means that there will be no need to keep returning to court every few months to renew the interim order. Giving police the confidence to continue enforcement against the irresponsible people racing on our streets.
"Car cruising is incredibly dangerous, and sadly has already cost lives. It must be stamped out. That's why I continue to campaign for a change in the law to criminalise this behaviour for good."