DRAG RACERS who operate an elaborate networking scheme to elude the police are creating serious headaches for the force and misery for scores of residents in Christ Church.

Acting Superintendent Albert Freeman, the deputy divisional officer in charge of traffic, said at District "A" Police Station last week that the ABC Highway, stretching from the airport to the Henry Forde Roundabout at Newton and between Bulkeley Roundabout and Haggatt Hall, were the main racing strips between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. every day.

He said when police responded to the scene, the culprits were often in another location. He identified Three Houses, St Philip, and Bourbon, St Lucy, as the main getaway points.

"By the time the police get there, we recognise that some of them [drag racers] are networking. By the time the police turn up at that location, they go on their cellphones. So a group would leave and end up in St Lucy on Bourbon Road, some would go to Three Houses Road, St Philip. These are the areas where we know that they are speeding.

"Unfortunately for us, it used to be between the Belle and Hothersal Turning but because of road construction, that is not usable but we also know now that some of them are using the stretch between Bulkeley Roundabout and Haggatt Hall," Freeman said.

He said police were dispatched between Bulkeley and Haggatt Hall and had been successful in catching some of the culprits.

Cracking down

Apart from drag racers, he said the force would also be cracking down on motorists who ran red lights at certain junctions.

Freeman said from this week, plainclothes officers, along with uniformed officers would be posted along certain sections to catch the culprits.

"People need to understand that they have to understand rules and regulations. It is not to please me or my organisation, but it is the safety of the general public.

"You would see some police officers in uniform and some not in uniform. The plainclothes officers would be there to ensure that you did commit the offence. Once that is done and we are satisfied that you committed the offence, the plainclothes officer will radio the uniformed officer who would take the necessary information and warn you of the offence committed and subsequent prosecution."

He said motorists approached the traffic lights at excessive speed, ran the red light and collided with other motorists.

In the interest of safety, the senior lawman advised motorists to exercise caution when driving off from traffic lights and look left and right before proceeding.

Freeman said the force was also very concerned about excessive speeding, and the troubling trend of motorists bumping especially female drivers from behind, and attacking them when they got out to check the damage. (JW)