Car meets are now banned in areas near Bristol

Car cruising is now banned across South Gloucestershire after an area-wide Public Space Protection Order has been introduced. Following a request from Avon and Somerset Police, and a consultation that took place at the end of 2023, South Gloucestershire Council has used powers under section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 (the Act), to bring in the order.

The order prohibits anyone from participating in a car cruise, whether pre-planned or as a spontaneous event. A car cruise mainly presents itself as a congregation of drivers and their passengers, together with spectators, who gather or meet in car parks and other public places, in order to race, perform stunts or show off their vehicles.

The vehicles concerned have often been modified to enhance performance and appearance. Car cruises can involve any of the prohibited activities below:

• Causing a danger or risk of injury to other road users, including pedestrians, by speeding or racing
• Causing damage or risk of damage to property
• Speeding or racing on the public highway
• Performing stunts, including but not limited to, doughnuts, manoeuvre drifting, skidding, handbrake turns or wheel spinning
• Sounding horns or the playing of loud music so as to cause a nuisance
• Revving of engines so as to cause a nuisance
• Causing obstruction on a public highway or publicly accessible land

The order applies to all land within the South Gloucestershire boundary which is open to the air (including land which is covered but open to the air on at least one side), to which the public are entitled or permitted to have access, with or without payment and by express or implied permission. As a result of feedback received through the consultation, the Order includes an exemption for motorsports clubs and other genuine events.

Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “This Order will help the council and police tackle the anti-social behaviour arising from car cruise gatherings, which can be dangerous for those involved and has a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.

“Our consultation showed that residents are concerned about the anti-social behaviours and potential safety risks associated with these gatherings. Events can result in pedestrians stood at the side of the public highway or within the confines of a publicly accessible car park who gather to watch the stunts take place, without any consideration to their own or public safety. The risk of injury or death from a collision, as a result of a stunt, is high and exponentially increases when factoring in the numbers that can gather at these events as a driver, passenger and/or spectator.

“These often spontaneous events also place a significant demand on police and council resources. They are not attended by Ambulance or private First Aid teams and are not regulated by any public body to ensure health and safety is adhered to.”

Any person who without reasonable excuse participates in any car cruise event or commits an act that is prohibited by this Order, on applicable land, commits an offence. Anyone found guilty shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (£1,000).

Alternatively, a police officer or council officer may issue a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) to any person they have reasonable cause to believe has committed an offence under this order. Inspector Matt Boiles, from Avon and Somerset Police Roads Policing Unit, said: “We are committed to working closely with South Gloucestershire Council and our partner agencies to tackle the anti-social use of vehicles, which poses a significant risk to the safety and wellbeing of our communities.

"This new Public Space Protection Order is a crucial step in ensuring that our roads remain safe for everyone and that those who engage in dangerous and disruptive activities face appropriate consequences.”

The order will be in place for three years, unless extended by further Orders under the statutory powers.