A FORMER police chief has urged motorists not to inflict tragedy upon other families through illegal or irresponsible driving.
Cllr Arnold Woolley is a former Police Senior Superintendent, Force Training Commander and traffic specialist - as well as the ongoing leader of Buckley's Community Speedwatch team.
He confirmed to the Leader that throughout the month of August, he and his colleagues carried out eight hour-long roadside monitoring sessions in Buckley and Mold.
During those, they logged a total of 103 speeders.
"What we did notice," he explained, "is that alongside the speeding, there was the habit of no seatbelts and mobile phone use.
"It's just as though people don't realise they can get thumping great fines and points for not being belted up and taking their eyes and minds off the road to deal with mobile phones - it's crazy, really."
Cllr Woolley's team frequently comes across vehicles which do not, according to his subsequent checks with the DVLA, have current tax or MOT status.
One of the vehicles clocked in August had no tax since October 2025, and no MOT since December 2024.
"Now, that situation means the joker may not even have a licence," he said.
"And it raises the question as to the validity of insurance."
Cllr Woolley shared grave concerns about such irresponsible vehicle use, as well as the issues of drink and drug-driving - which the Leader reports on very regularly in our area's courts.
He said: "Frankly, it is antisocial behaviour. They really are raising two fingers to society and to the law.
"You have to ask yourself - where is the responsibility towards fellow road users and society in general?
"People need to take note that driving is a responsibility."
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Speaking of the consequences of irresponsible or illegal driving, he continued: "All too many times [during my police career], I had to dig dead bodies out of wrecked cars caused by two main things; speeding and imbibing any form of intoxicant, be it booze or drugs.
"One of the worst tasks I have ever had to do, and one of the worst things any police detail has to do, is to knock on a family's door and say to them that someone is not coming back.
"I would urge anybody who gets behind the wheel of a car to make sure they are legal, that the vehicle is legal and that they have full, sharp function of their mind and eyesight.
"Tragically, the consequences are not only for the individual at the wheel, but for the passengers in the vehicle, fellow drivers around them, pedestrians and their own families - who are all impacted by the lunacy of breaking the law while driving or stuffing themselves full of drink and drugs."
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