By Bruce Fegen

KIRKCALDY’S ESPLANADE, for long a magnet for boy and girl racers, is again being targeted by Fife police as they continue their crackdown on dangerous young drivers.

The police action was mounted last month after a number of deaths among young drivers and their passengers. The main focus is the Esplanade.

Among those caught so far are:

* Two young men racing along the road in total disregard for others’ safety

* A young driver whose passenger was standing on the car’s windowsill videoing their drive along the Esplanade on his mobile phone.

* A 19-year-old man speeding through three red lights.

* A 19-year-old woman speeding at 53mph in a 30mph zone.

* An 18-year-old man who only held his licence for three months speeding while uninsured.

Since the campaign was launched on August 16, the police have detected 643 offences across Fife.

Fife police have also seized 36 vehicles and issued numerous anti-social behaviour warnings.

Inspector John McDonald said, “We have pledged to make safer neighbourhoods and, in the Esplanade area of Kirkcaldy, the way to do that is to show boy and girl racers that their anti-social and dangerous behaviour behind the wheel will not be tolerated.”

The police would take a zero-tolerance approach.

Mr McDonald emphasised that the campaign would not end until the community was satisfied that the police were dealing with these risks and making an impact on the safety of all road users and the local community.

He said, “So many young drivers seem to think they are invincible but our statistics prove they are not.

“Of the 12 people who have died on Fife’s roads since January this year, nine of them were under the age of 25, and until this trend stops, we will continue to target young irresponsible drivers.

“We will charge them, seize their cars, use every piece of legislation at our disposal until they respond by driving sensibly and safely within our communities.”