Youngsters are putting lives in danger on the main road running through a village by playing ‘chicken’ with oncoming traffic, it is claimed.
Residents have raised serious concerns about the ongoing problem after reports of dangerous activity taking place near a pedestrian crossing in Cross Houses on the A458.
Groups of teenagers are reportedly risking the lives of drivers and themselves by appearing to obstruct oncoming traffic until moving out of the way at the last minute. It is a game known most commonly as ‘chicken’.
There have already been a number of near misses and now a flood of residents and motorists have complained about the issue to Berrington Parish Council.
Fears have also been raised that younger children could end up copying their older counterparts which would increase the risk of a tragedy occurring.
A warning over the problem has been issued in the August and September edition of the Village Pump parish magazine.
Claire Wild, Shropshire councillor for Severn Valley, said: “This is an ongoing problem in the village and we have had quite a lot of people contact us recently raising their concerns that this is still a key issue.
“They are concerned that someone could get seriously hurt and it is a very worrying problem because youngsters’ perception of speed is not always the same as adults. There is the very realistic chance that someone could be killed on the road if this activity carries on happening and we need to try and make parents aware of the problem and the dangers which are associated with this kind of activity.”
Community support officer, Mark Barnes, said: “Earlier in the year the police did receive a number of reports of young people playing chicken on the main A458 running through Cross Houses and those involved were identified and given strong words of advice on road safety.
“No incidents have been reported recently and the new youth shelter has proven hugely popular.”
By David Seadon