Reckless drivers are driving the residents of West Reykjavík crazy. The situation has reached a boiling point, according to Vísir. Residents have resorted to venting their anger on a Facebook page they have created. They ask what city officials plan to do about the situation which is disturbing their calm.
Resident Guðmundur Guðmundsson complains about the racket the road hogs are making during beautiful summer nights. “At the moment, the noise, screeching and wheel spinning is disturbing the sleep of everyone in the western part of the city. This is intolerable, but as you know, police are not equipped to address it. Are the residents of West Reykjavík supposed to take matters into their own hands?” he asks city council member Kjartan Ragnarsson.
Numerous residents who voice their opinion on the Facebook page agree with Guðmundur that the situation is unbearable.
The motorists in question mostly practice their skills in front of the BYKÓ store at Grandi. There, they practice doing burnouts, emitting a loud screech, which resonates far enough to disturb the dreams of exhausted neighbors.
Speeding is also practiced by the same people, not least on Hringbraut, and since the drivers don’t want to go unnoticed, they have typically removed the muffler from their vehicles. Concerned residents worry it’s only a question of time when serious accidents results. Authorities are at a loss as to how to tackle the problem. Kjartan, who witnessed a recent police intervention, stated, “As soon as police arrive on the scene, things calm down, but as soon as they leave, all hell breaks loose.”
He stresses that city officials, although able to have speed bumps installed, have no authority over the police and can’t tell them what to do.
It may therefore be a while before the speeding motorists give residents a break and let them enjoy a good night’s sleep.
