DANGEROUS drivers can make Bradford feel like a “lawless society”, according to a councillor.

Councillor Michelle Swallow (Lab, Clayton and Fairweather Green) told a meeting of Bradford Council that living in some areas of the city felt like “living on a race track” due to dangerous and anti-social driving, and asked if more could be done to tackle the issue.

She had asked a question about danger driving at the full Council meeting, saying: “Despite targeted work by West Yorkshire Police it is still a major issue so would the portfolio holder comment on progress to deal with arrogant, dangerous drivers?”

A written response presented at the meeting said: “The police have had great success in tackling anti-social driving through Operation Steerside, which is over and above the normal roads policing activity in Bradford.

“It is, however, acknowledged that this remains a key public concern.

Residents start campaign group against danger drivers

“In view of this the police and partners have recently expanded the scope of the Steerside initiative to develop a wider partnership approach.

“The new West Yorkshire Chief Inspector in charge of Roads Policing for West Yorkshire has promised new vigour around roads policing activity with the hiring of new officers to support the dedicated roads policing team.”

It also said a new “multi-agency” Steerside group had been set up that was not limited to the police force.

Cllr Swallow replied: “I’d like to know what more can be done. For many people living in Bradford in the summer is like living on a race track.

“Go anywhere near Leeds Road and Great Horton Road and you hear cars revving. It seems like we’re living in a lawless society, not a society that is just and fair.”

Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe replied: “What you’re saying reflects the concerns of a lot of our residents.

“All of us I’m sure have had stories about dangerous driving. There is no quick fix, but we will do all we can to stop this.”

Operation Steerside recently released its figures on how many drivers had been dealt with in the three-month period between March and June.

In that period, a total of 698 vehicles were seized in the Bradford District.

Of these, 452 were seized for no insurance, 174 were seized for no vehicle excise licence, 45 were seized for driving licence offences and there were 27 seizures due to drivers having already been warned.

A series of operations in the Bradford East and Shipley constituencies has also recently been carried out.

During these operations 45 tickets were issued to drivers for mobile phone misuse/seatbelt offences. Eight drivers were issued with anti-social vehicle warnings for poor standards of driving. There were four arrests for traffic-related offences, and seven vehicles were seized for no insurance and no road tax.

Thirty-four vehicles were checked for roadworthiness by the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency, resulting in 19 being prohibited from use And one vehicle was positively identified for using “red diesel”, which is for off-road use only.

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, (PCC), said: “Those flouting the laws and putting themselves and other road users and pedestrians at risk will be caught and dealt with appropriately.

“We work closely with the Police, Bradford Council and other organisations to address road safety issues in the district with additional resources and it is a priority within my Police and Crime Plan.

“Many proactive multi agency operations have taken place in addition to the daily deployments which routinely take place with antisocial driving warnings being issued and vehicles seized through the ongoing Operation Steerside campaign.

“However, whilst enforcement is one part of it, it is crucial that work is done to change people’s attitudes towards driving in the process and change behaviours over time.

“A lot of partnership work is undertaken to educate motorists in Bradford about the effects and consequences of nuisance and anti -social driving and that will continue, but it has to be a partnership approach to ensure we are doing all we can to make the roads safer for everyone.”