"It's only a matter of time before someone is killed": Fears Leeds roads are being used as racetracks during lockdown

Despite most people abiding by Government instructions to stay at home, there have been reports of motorists who are on the roads driving at excessive speeds.

A 15-year-old boy was hit and seriously injured by a motorist in Carr Manor Road, Moortown, last month.

And there was a near miss in Belle Vue Road, Hyde Park, earlier this month when a sports car crashed into a parked car and knocked over the 20mph speed limit sign.

It is not thought that anyone was seriously injured.

Alex contacted the Yorkshire Evening Post with his concerns about speeding around Hyde Park, where he lives.

Alex, who did not want to give his surname, said: "We live on Belle Vue Road and boy racers often speed up and down it.

"It is a 20mph zone but there is absolutely no enforcement and the speedbumps are so small as to be pointless.

"Since we have been in lockdown, the amount of speeding and dangerous driving has increased massively on Belle Vue Road.

"There are lots of children and old people around so it's only a matter of time before someone is hurt or killed."

West Yorkshire Police has been using its social media channels to warn motorists that the law still applies.

"Just because the roads are quieter doesn’t mean you can break the law speeding. Our officers will take action," is one such message.

Figures from Greater Manchester suggest that four in ten cars on the region's roads are exceeding speed limits, up from a quarter in normal circumstances.

Eleanor Thompson, who lives in Guiseley, said roads across the suburb were seeing increased speeds.

She said: "We're starting to see speeds rising on quiet roads in Guiseley now.

"Some are always problematic - Bradford Road and Park Road are used like race tracks.

"Residents on Hawksworth Lane and Netherfield Road often observe dangerous speeds."

Transport Campaigner Rob Greenland said: "It's been good to see people mostly following the guidelines to do their daily exercise locally. And obviously there's a lot less traffic, which is good.

"But it's noticeable that a significant number of people who are driving are taking advantage of quiet roads to speed.

"This is dangerous at any time - but particularly so as people are having to step out from the pavement into roads to maintain social distancing.

"I think the figures from Greater Manchester would be similar here."

Mr Greenland echoed calls from Hyde Park resident Alex to take more space away from cars during lockdown, who suggested doing so would allow people to better observe social distancing when exercising.

"I think we need to be considering measures like creating temporary bike lanes, coning off street parking spaces so people can walk in the street, and temporary speed limit reductions - alongside more enforcement of speed limits by police," Mr Greenland added.

"It makes sense to encourage people to stay local for their daily exercise - but they need help too - so that local streets are pleasant and safe to exercise on."

Mr Greenland also raised the issue with Superintendent Mark Jessop, of West Yorkshire Police's Road Policing Unit (RPU), on social media.

Supt Jessop said: "Camera enforcement vans are out to maximum deployment. RPU are out and advising and enforcing.

"Our stance and expectation of law adherence has not waivered.

"Nationally there are trends of increased speeds.

"We will do our utmost to keep the roads safe."