This article is from page 6 of the 2012-08-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
GARDAÍ have issued a warning to boy racers that dangerous driving on Clare’s roads will not be tolerated.
Chief Supt of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin was speaking at the July meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC). He was responding to concerns raised by local representatives that speeding is a big problem around the county.
However Chief Supt Kerin told the meeting that speeding problems have declined in the county in recent years. “The problem with speeding is not the same problem as it was six years ago.”
He explained that one of the reasons for the decline has been that boy racers no longer have the money to spend on cars. “We are aware of them. We have called to them and to their parents to tell them we would be focusing on them…If we do receive a report, we will call and let them know they under garda attention.”
Chief Supt Kerin said, “There is a perception that people are not being caught but they are being caught.”
Councillors had called on the gardaí to clamp down more forcefully on speeding and dangerous driving.
Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) said a stretch of road near Barntick has become like “Shannon runway at time”. Cllr Oliver Garry (FG) said speeding on national roads was a bigger problem while concern was also expressed over cars speeding on the road between Miltown Malbay and Quilty. JPC Chairman, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) told the meeting that there is a perception that speed vans are put in locations where they catch a lot of people at the same time. He added, “There are many areas in rural Clare where there are problems with speeding that are not served by the speed van.”
Chief Supt Kerin said speed vans are used to monitor roads around the county.