MOTORCYCLISTS using the A272 as a “race track” were among dozens of complaints about antisocial driving received by the Sussex police and crime commissioner in the past three months.
Katy Bourne shared some of those complaints with Chief Constable Jo Shiner during a performance and accountability meeting.
Among the 92 letters and emails received were complaints from residents in Wisborough Green, St Leonard’s, Bury and Tillington, with a huge proportion relating to the noise and speed of motorbikes.
Chief Constable
She added: “It’s called Operation Downsway, which is our operation to be able to target those people who don’t use the roads responsibility.
"As a result of that operation so far, since lockdown lifted, we’ve dealt with in excess of 160 offences. There has been some significant enforcement activity.”
In the Eastbourne area, there has been a massive increase in the number of drivers handed enforcement notices such as speeding tickets.
Chief Constable Shiner reported that, between March 23 and June 29, 802 tickets were issued, compared to 238 in the same period last year – a rise of 350 per cent.
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She said: “I hope that offers some reassurance that our road policing officers and others are absolutely focused on this, as are our partner agencies. We want to make sure that we are preventing behaviour that causes accidents.”
Other complaints shared by Mrs Bourne included large lorries and “speed freaks and petrolheads on their noisy bikes” in the Bolney area; motorbikes racing at high speeds along Bury Hill – while a photographer captured the “action” from a lay-by; and speeding in Storrington, Fittleworth, Amberley and Coldwaltham.
Offering to meet with the complainants, Chief Constable Shiner said one of the aims of Operation Downsway was to listen to and include residents affected by antisocial drivers “so we can problem solve this together and they can understand what we can and can’t do”.
She added: “There’s no doubt that we still have more to do. It is everybody’s responsibility to drive sensibly on the roads.”
To report antisocial driving such as speeding, dangerous driving and people driving while using a mobile phone, log on to reports.operationcrackdown.org/asdprs .
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