A High Court ruling has officially banned "dangerous" car meets across parts of Central London, where antisocial drivers often perform stunts like burnouts and doughnuts. The injunction, issued on Friday, prohibits motorists from racing, performing stunts, and organising meet-ups in areas including Knightsbridge, Belgravia, St James, Hyde Park, and the West End.
Persistent Disruption
Car meets have been a persistent source of disruption for local residents and businesses, especially late at night. Hotspots such as Exhibition Road, Pall Mall, and parts of Soho have regularly witnessed large gatherings of drivers, leading to numerous complaints about excessive noise and hazardous stunts involving modified vehicles.
Westminster City Council applied for a borough-wide injunction in April this year to crack down on antisocial car meets and dangerous driving stunts. The application followed repeated concerns about the impacts on local neighbourhoods. Beyond legal measures, the council is also planning to implement physical deterrents, such as installing anti-skid road surfaces in popular gathering spots like Exhibition Road.
Political Support
Councillor Rachel Robathan, a Conservative representative for Knightsbridge and Belgravia and former council leader, has been pushing for more action to tackle the issue. She has welcomed the news of the injunction on the car meet-ups in her ward. "I am delighted that, working with the police, we have finally secured this injunction which makes car meets illegal and gives the police the powers to arrest. These highly dangerous and disruptive stunts and road races have plagued my residents in Knightsbridge, as well as other areas covered in the injunction, for years so I hope that we can now finally end this for good," she said.
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Cllr Caroline Sargent, said the ruling "sends a clear message to those involved." "Antisocial driving is incredibly dangerous, and we do not want it in Westminster. This ruling is a fantastic result for the council and its partners which will make our streets safer whilst offering residents respite from the excessive noise," she added.
Penalties for Breach
Following this decision, anyone who breaches the injunction could face large fines or seizure of their vehicles for excessively revving their engines or driving dangerously. The injunction covers a wide area of Central London, aiming to curb the antisocial behaviour that has troubled residents for years.
