'Dangerous drivers are not welcome' - police message amid car meets over the weekend

Avon and Somerset Police were alerted to two car meets over the weekend, whilst a number of people were injured in a crash in Bristol

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 23rd Nov 2023

Police tell us car meets - where vehicles are driven dangerously - are both anti-social and a risk to public safety.

A 19-year-old man is set to appear in court for dangerous driving after a crash on Saturday Night near Avonmouth which saw at least three people injured.

Officers reported events hosting around 100 cars in Emersons Green over the weekend, and another involving more than 40 in Bristol.

This weekend's incidents

At 7pm on Saturday (November 18), Avon and Somerset Police say they received a call about a car meet involving around 100 vehicles taking place off Emersons Way, with cars reportedly being driven dangerously.

When officers attended the scene and spoke with the organisers of the event, they agreed to call an end to it.

By 8:15pm, most of the vehicles had left.

At 8.30pm, police then received a call that 15 to 20 cars were in a car park off Fox Den Road in Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire.

Officers again attended and monitored the situation until the vehicles left at about 9.20pm.

At 10pm, they then received a report a car meet involving more than 40 vehicles was taking place on Poplar Way in the Avonmouth area of Bristol.

Twenty minutes later they received a call from the ambulance service, after a car had crashed with a number of pedestrians on Poplar Way.

They then reported a 19-year-old man from Tamworth for summons for dangerous driving.

He will attend court at a future date following the incident, which saw at least three people - two men aged 19 and 24, and a 19-year-old woman - injured.

The full extent of their injuries is not yet known although police say they believe the woman sustained significant fractures or broken bones.

Investigations into both the car meet itself and the collision are ongoing, with a number of witnesses identified, including those who were injured, who they say they will seek to obtain formal statements from.

They've also captured a number of videos that were later posted online.

Sgt Matt Boiles said: “Car meets in which engines are revved loudly and cars are driven dangerously are both anti-social and a risk to public safety.

“We have plans in place for tackling car meets and will always attend when we have the resources available.

“We will take enforcement action when appropriate while we also continue to work closely with our local authority partners to prevent car meets happening in the first place.

“In South Gloucestershire for instance, the local council are currently consulting the public on a proposal to introduce an area-wide Public Spaces Protection Order.

“We hope together, the criminal and civil actions we’re taking with our partners sends a strong message that dangerous drivers are not welcome in our policing area.”

Police add they will not hesitate to take action should any other offences be identified.

Anyone who encounters any dangerous driving is asked to report it to us on 101 or alternatively dashcam footage can be uploaded through our website.

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