The petition of residents of the constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole,
Declares that the residents of Holton Heath Park have been experiencing an unacceptable level of antisocial behaviour caused by dangerous motor vehicle driving in this area; further declares that this has been a major issue in the area for many years; and further declares that urgent traffic calming, surveillance and speed reducing measures should be implemented in the area to re-establish peace and quiet for Holton Heath’s residents.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take action to assist the relevant authorities in Holton Heath in tackling and preventing antisocial behaviour caused by dangerous drivers around Holton Heath Park.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Vikki Slade, Official Report, 19 May 2026; Vol. 786, c. 516.]
[P003200]
Observations from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood):
The Government recognise the concerns raised by residents of Holton Heath Park about antisocial behaviour linked to dangerous and inconsiderate driving. These are serious issues that place other road users and pedestrians at risk through reckless, dangerous or inconsiderate driving, and can also affect the residents’ entitlement to peace and quiet.
All road users are required to comply with road traffic law, in the interests of their own safety and that of other road users. The behaviour being exhibited in Holton Heath, described in the petition, may amount to multiple offences where Dorset police have the legislation and authority to investigate and enforce.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 provides offences for careless, inconsiderate and dangerous driving. The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 set limits on the level of noise that vehicles may produce when used on public roads, and it is an offence to modify a vehicle’s exhaust system so that it increases noise beyond these limits. Where vehicle use causes excessive noise or disruption, it may also constitute antisocial behaviour.
In addition, section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 provides the police with powers to take action where a motor vehicle is used in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public and involves a contravention of road traffic law. This includes the power to issue warnings and, where behaviour persists, to seize vehicles being used antisocially.
Such incidents can be reported to the police. Enforcement of the law is a matter for Dorset police, who will decide based on the evidence in each individual case whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take.
The Government’s road safety strategy published earlier this year emphasised the importance of reducing deaths, injuries and harm caused by unsafe road use, including speeding and dangerous driving. Within this framework, local authorities are expected to take appropriate action where there is evidence of persistent road safety or antisocial behaviour concerns, using the powers and tools available to them.
As part of the delivery of the road safety strategy, the Department for Transport published a motoring offences consultation, which closed on 11 May. The consultation sought views on taking a tougher stance on serious motoring offences, including dangerous driving and cases where driving behaviour has resulted in serious injury or death. We will publish the outcome of the consultation and our next steps following analysis in due course.
With regard to the introduction of traffic calming, speed management and surveillance measures, responsibility for their introduction and delivery rests with the relevant local authority. While the Government wish to support measures that make the roads in Holton Heath safer, they recognise that local authorities are best placed to balance the needs of residents with an understanding of the wider function of the road network in their area and the suitability of such measures in specific locations.