Judge warns it is only a matter of time before there is a fatality at car 'drifting' events
A judge has voiced his fears that it is only a matter of time before there is a fatality at 'drifting' events in public car parks.
District Judge Nigel Broderick was speaking at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, where he viewed a video of a large number of parked vehicles with headlights on illuminating Newferry car park near Toomebridge.
In the video - which was police bodycam - a car appeared to be 'drifting' and a sound of screeching tyres could be heard.
The driver of that car was not before the court.
Details were given as another person who was present at the car park - Kyle Woods (23), of Rainey Court in Magherafelt - was charged with dangerous driving.
A prosecutor said he could accept a guilty plea to a reduced charge of careless driving. The defendant also admitted having an incorrect font on a number plate.
It was said the defendant's car was not the drifting car in the video.
However, Woods had driven "quickly" whilst "making turns" in the car park, the court was told.
The gathering at the remote car park at Newferry on the eastern banks of the River Bann happened at 10.15pm on Sunday November 30 last year.
A defence lawyer said another car had been drifting.
The defendant, he said, had been seen just prior to that "moving too quickly" across the car park and turning. The defendant was in a BMW.
Judge Broderick said BMWs are "notorious" for drifting as they are rear-wheel drive.
The defendant, who already had six points on his licence, received five penalty points and was fined £400.
Judge Broderick said that even the defendant's presence at the drifting event was a "worry" as such events seemed to be on the increase.
He said it inevitably involves young men who seem to think it is "bravado" to spin their cars around in circles doing so-called "donuts" or drifting.
The judge said a large crowd of onlookers seemed to "spur them on".
"That's not a crime in itself" but "those who are present are in some way indirectly creating the atmosphere that gives some incentive to others to show off and create dangerous driving manoeuvres," said Judge Broderick.
Such events were probably organised on social media, he said.
The judge told the defendant: "You are part of this supportive crowd. There is no evidence that you were so-called drifting.
"Had there been I would have no hesitation in convicting you of dangerous driving and disqualifying you.
"This is a dangerous endeavour that young men seem to be increasingly involved in and it is only a matter of time before there is a serious if not fatal road traffic collision.
"If somebody wants to manoeuvre their car in drifting I am sure there is some organised race track that is secure and safe for this but not public space with members of the public observing".