Police warning of 'killing machines' on roads

The PSNI says it's officers uncovered "scary" statistics including 20 cars with "serious mechanical defects" and nine deemed "dangerous". MOT Enforcement Officers inspected 25 cars. Out of the 20 found to have serious defects, 16 were subject to an immediate prohibition and four to a defect notice. Customs and Excise also detected 11 vehicles for incorrect fuel of which seven vehicles were seized and restored for 3607. Four vehicles were not restored. Twenty-two prosecution files are now being prepared for offences ranging from excess speed, no insurance, no driving licence, careless driving, taking and driving away, excess alcohol, possession of class A and B drugs, vehicle defects and many more from the operation on September 19. Revealing the statistics at a recent meeting of Limavady Custom Cruisers were rally driver Eugene Donnelly was guest speaker, Inspector Stephen Haslett called the results "scary".

He said: "The results of the operation for a few hours on one night are scary and reflect the scale of the problem and emphasised that further operations would take place "until the message that driving unsafe vehicles gets out there".

In addition, the Police also issued 21 endorsable fixed penalty notices for a range of offences, 18 non endorsable fixed penalty notices, analysed 29 tacho charts, and had 483 hits on the Automatic Number Plate Recognition System in Dungiven and Magherafelt.

Distinguished Rally Driver Eugene Donnelly reminded those at the LCC meeting about the importance of driving carefully. He also reminded everyone that cars are "killing machines", and spoke about an incident from his own past when a passenger in a car he was driving was killed by a drunk driver. He encouraged those present to get involved with motor sport but to control their love for speed in an organised, off road environment. Prizes were awarded by Limavady District Policing Partnership to Amy Ritchie from Causeway Cruisers and Davy Bradley, Limavady Custom Cruises for completing a manoeuvrability exercise using the club car. The club is open to any young person interested and meets on Thursday nights, at the Greystone Centre, NWRC at 19.30 hours.

Further information on the www.facebook.com/limavadycustomcruisers.