A councillor has branded a Derry main road a “death trap” after an out of control vehicle bulldozed through a garden wall while a family were inside last month.
Sinn Fein's Conor Heaney said the road has been the "epicentre" for death drivers who were "excessively speeding" and "causing a danger to families" in the local area.
It comes after a family with a young child narrowly escaped with their lives when a stolen car smashed into their home.
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However, the Department for Infrastructure believes that the traffic measures already installed on the road are of a "good standard".
The councillor, who is a resident within the area, said action needed to be taken before someone was killed.
"This is particularly a nighttime problem, but it also happens during the day," he said.
"It is a mixture of people who are just speeding because the traffic-calming measures here are not adequate and then stolen cars that are being driven up and down these roads by death drivers on a regular basis.
"This seems to be a favour spot for some people who have stolen the cars because it's a fairly straight piece of road that extends right down to the Northland Road.
"I hear these cars coming up and down this road on a regular basis. Whether it's people who are just speeding or, as I said, these death drivers."
He added: "This stretch of road also takes you out beyond the border into Donegal and that has also caused a rat run for some who are looking for a quicker route into the city."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for DfI said: “The Department can confirm the Springtown Road adjacent to Derrymore has traffic calming humps that are of good standard.
“This section of road has also been upgraded with LED street lights and there is a chicane island on the approach from the country end slowing down traffic on approach to the built-up housing area.
“The Department believes that the traffic calming features provide a reasonable level of intervention to moderate traffic speeds. Following consultation with the police, if any further traffic calming features are thought to be beneficial then they will be considered.”
The PSNI said that they had only received "a small number of reports" about dangerous and careless driving on Springtown Road.
Inspector McManus said: "Recently, our Neighbourhood teams have been proactive, conducting a number of operations in the city following concerns about dangerous and careless driving, including the Shipquay Street and Strand Road areas.
“While we may have only received a small number of reports about dangerous and careless driving on Springtown Road, we understand fully the impact this will have had on the local community, but I want to assure the local community we take these concerns seriously. We will continue to be proactive and will be increasing resources in the area.
"I want to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who has concerns with regards to dangerous or careless driving in our city to please report it to us so we can investigate.
"We know there is support in the community from people who do not want, or deserve to be subjected to this type of driving. Not only does it have the potential to cause harm or serious injury to the people who engage in this type of activity, but it can also cause harm to other drivers.
"It can also lead to convictions where dangerous driving will result in a mandatory disqualification for 12 months minimum."
Cllr Heaney said for DfI to say there was nothing wrong with the traffic measures in place was "not true" and urged them to meet with families to "find out for themselves".
He added: "We are awaiting a meeting with senior officials from DfI to show them the problems that are occurring up here and to meet local residents so they can explain that the measures are not adequate and, in fact, they need more.
"We want a crash barrier put in place because they would protect these houses from any cars that are out of control and speeding on this road.
"Ideally, we want this illegal behaviour to stop until that time the residents need protection."
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