A FORMER chief superintendent at West Midlands Police has called on Solihull Council to take action against ‘reckless’ and ‘speeding’ drivers.
Michael Doyle, who was head of operations at the force, spoke about incidents that have occurred on Churchill Road at the full council meeting on Tuesday (April 8).
He also spoke about the frustration and anger of residents who have been caught in the crossfire of dangerous drivers, including some who have moved away due to the speeding.
Speaking at the meeting Mr Doyle called on the Council to get key stakeholders at senior executive level to champion ‘meaningful change’ and to put into place effective deterrents.
Mr Doyle spoke about a car which crossed the carriageway at speed then embedded itself into one of the homes along the road, which is just yards away from a bus stop.
He also spoke about other time when the tyres exploded on a vehicle which then crossed the carriageway and crashed on the pavement of Churchill Road and another when a car was filpped over due to excessive speed.
Mr Doyle said: “The council would be wise not to use this lack of ‘personal injury records’ as a fig leaf for inadequate action, this is the potential disaster unfolding before our very eyes.
“We need a key stakeholder at senior executive level to champion meaningful change.
“We need to put into place effective heavy duty speed ramps either end of Churchill Road to influence driver behaviour time and date specific.
“We need a robust enforcement strategy utilising section 59 of the police reform act to seize vehicles in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance.”
Responding to the call into action Councillor Ken Hawkins, cabinet member for Environment and Infrastructure said: “The frustration of speeding is quite a major worry for people.”
He said he would raise the issue at the Road Safety Partnership, which he attends on behalf of the police and fire service to look into.
He added: “We will be taking this further.”
