Deansgate 'manboy racers' should be targeted using…

Deansgate 'manboy racers' should be targeted using noise cameras, says councillor

A councillor has called for noise cameras to tackle 'manboy racers' who think they are 'Hollywood superstars' speeding along Deansgate. The trials, aimed at detecting rowdy drivers and control noise pollution, have been welcomed in a string of areas, including on a roundabout between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, and could be rolled out nationwide.

The brand new 'noise-detecting traffic cameras' are to be deployed in Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford and Great Yarmouth in a bid to clamp down on ‘boy racers’ revving engines and using illegal exhausts on the roads. The new technology uses a video camera in conjunction with a number of microphones to accurately pinpoint excessively noisy vehicles as they pass by.

Manchester Councillor Pat Karney, spokesperson for the city centre, has made calls for the trials to be introduced in Manchester to take a stand against dangerous motorists who speed along Deansgate and Peter Street. He said residents living in the city centre are being disturbed in the early hours of the morning, particularly on weekends, and that their 'lives are being made into a misery' by 'absolute idiots'.

He said: "For people who live in the area, they are plagued by supercars racing up and down Deansgate, Peter Street and Quay Street. They go around at 2 or 3 in the morning, particularly on weekends.

"They think they can't be caught and play cat and mouse with the police. They think they are untouchable in these cars.

"It causes crippling loudness. The noise that comes from the exhausts is just unbelievable and it is day and night. They find a good stretch of road and just use it as a racetrack.

"It started off in lockdown mainly, and it has been happening ever since. City councillors are just fed up with it, and I am interested in seeing how effective these new noise cameras are and if we can put in an application.

The noise-detecting cameras on the A34 Pendleton Way, between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge (Cheshire East Council)

"These immature drivers want us to look at them like they are amazing. They think they look like Hollywood superstars when in reality, everyone thinks they are complete idiots. These manboys need to be stopped."

The Manchester Evening News previously reported how the driver of a McLaren supercar was slapped with £100 fine on Deansgate as police and councillors slammed 'boy racers'. At the time, Coun Karney said the city centre was 'overrun' with the antisocial drivers.

And just yesterday, it was announced that a noise-activated camera is to be installed on the A34 between Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, in a bid to fine drivers revving their engines and cause other noise nuisance in their cars across south Manchester and Cheshire. It comes as Manchester City Council announced in June this year that further measures are to be taken to reduce the amount of cars on Deansgate. It’s part of a push to have nine in ten city centre journeys car-free by 2040.

A new-age road camera designed to identify and track drivers breaking the law by revving engines and using modified exhausts were first installed in Bradford on Tuesday (October 18) before being introduced in South Gloucestershire, Great Yarmouth and Birmingham. The Transport Secretary has confirmed these four locations will host the new ‘noise camera’ following a government-backed competition to tackle noise pollution on some of the loudest streets in Britain.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: "Rowdy road drivers beware – these new cameras will help the police clampdown on those who break the legal noise limits or use illegal modified exhausts to make excessive noise in our communities.

"We’ll be working closely with the local authorities and police to share any findings, and I hope that this technology paves the way for quieter, peaceful streets across the country."

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here