Residents living along Barrack Street in Armagh say repeated noise from modified cars is leaving them exhausted, stressed and questioning how effectively anti-social driving is being tackled locally.
People affected by the vehicles describe loud exhausts, aggressive acceleration, engine revving and explosive backfires at all hours of the day and night. They say the disruption is ongoing rather than the result of occasional isolated incidents.
Residents describe disruption inside their homes
One Barrack Street resident, who asked not to be named, said the complaint was not directed at people who enjoy cars, but at the way some vehicles are modified and driven through built-up areas.
“This is not a complaint about people owning or enjoying cars. It is a complaint about how some vehicles are being modified and driven on public roads, and the effect that behaviour is having on the people who live there.”
She said cars could be heard accelerating through built-up areas, being deliberately revved and producing very loud bangs and backfires. The result, she said, was stress and disturbance in homes where residents should be able to expect security and privacy.
Although Barrack Street is an arterial road, the resident said that should not mean people living there must accept excessive noise or anti-social driving as a normal part of life.
“The cumulative nature of it is particularly important. A single loud vehicle might be dismissed as an isolated incident, but when this happens repeatedly, it becomes an ongoing disturbance.”
She said the repeated incidents could interrupt sleep, disrupt family life and leave people feeling unable to enjoy peace and privacy in their own homes. Residents who work shifts, families with young children, older people with medical conditions and anyone particularly sensitive to sudden noise were identified as being especially affected.
Questions over enforcement powers
Residents are asking how consistently existing powers are being used when complaints concern excessive vehicle noise, defective exhausts and the way vehicles are driven.
The Barrack Street resident said the issue was not simply whether a car sounded louder than a standard vehicle. She said reports involved hard acceleration, excessive revving and repeated exhaust backfires, raising questions about whether individual vehicles were compliant and whether the driving created additional motoring or road-safety concerns.
“PSNI’s own published information confirms that excessive vehicle noise and defective exhausts fall within its motoring-offence statistics.”
She also referred to guidance identifying road-vehicle noise as an environmental noise issue, including disturbance from exhaust pipes, and advising people who want to complain about vehicles with faulty silencers to contact the PSNI.
Residents said published information on anti-social behaviour also recognises that excessive noise can affect the quality of life of individuals and communities, while motoring offences should be reported to police. The central question they want answered is what action is being taken in Armagh when complaints are made repeatedly.
Police promise targeted action
Police said they are aware of the issue and are actively targeting vehicular anti-social behaviour in Armagh city.
Neighbourhood Inspector Moffett said neighbourhood and local policing teams were working to tackle the problem and would continue working with key stakeholders and partner agencies, including the Driver & Vehicle Agency.
“We will continue to work closely with key stakeholders and partner agencies, including the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) to address these concerns which directly impact communities within Armagh city.”
Police said reports of the activity were being taken seriously and warned those involved that anti-social driving could lead to fixed penalty notices, vehicles being seized and court appearances.
Inspector Moffett also acknowledged the negative impact the behaviour can have on the local community and urged anyone affected to report it immediately to support a prompt response.
“Finally, I would encourage anyone who has any concerns about anti-social behaviour or anti-social driving to contact police via 101 to make a report.”
Residents’ concerns therefore remain focused on the frequency of the incidents and how enforcement powers are being applied. Police have said local teams are working with the DVA and other agencies, while people affected by anti-social driving are being asked to report incidents through 101.
