High Court injunction bans street racing in Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton
The High Court has granted a full and final injunction banning 'street racing', also known as 'car cruising', in the Black Country in Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
It forbids anyone who is a driver, rider or passenger in or on a motor vehicle to participate between the hours of 3pm and 7am in a gathering of two or more persons within the three council areas at which some of those present engage in motor racing or motor stunts or other dangerous or obstructive driving.
It also covers organisers and spectators, prohibiting people from promoting, organising or publicising gatherings, or from participating in a gathering as a spectator with the intention or expectation that some of those present will engage in street racing.
The injunction covers the whole of the boroughs of Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and has a Power of Arrest attached to it which gives the police the power to arrest anyone who breaches it. Breach of an injunction is a contempt to court and if proved the court has the power to impose a sentence of imprisonment, a fine, or an order seizing a person’s assets.
For the purposes of the injunction, stunts are defined as driving manoeuvres often undertaken at such gatherings including but not limited to:
- “Burnouts” – causing a vehicle to destroy its tyres by applying power to the drive wheels while braking so as to remain in place while the wheels revolve at speed
- “Donuts/Donutting” – causing a vehicle to rotate around a fixed point (normally the front axle) while not moving-off causing noise, smoke and tyre marks to be created
- “Drifting” – turning by placing the vehicle in a skid so that most sideways motion is due to the skid not any significant steering input
- “Undertaking” – Passing a vehicle on its nearside so as to overtake in circumstances not permitted by the Highway Code.
The injunction and power of arrest will remain in force until at least 1 March 2027.
Full details of the injunction, including evidence presented to the High Court, the Sealed Order, power of arrest, a map showing the three local authority areas and other supporting documentation, can be found in our street racing downloads webpage.
Incidents of street racing should be reported online to the council or to West Midlands Police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.
If you spot street racing injunction signs are damaged or missing, please report damaged or missing signs online to the council or call the highways team on 0121 368 1177.
The application was led by the City of Wolverhampton Council on behalf of Wolverhampton, Sandwell Council and Walsall Council, and supported by West Midlands Police.
To contact the claimants, write to: FAO: Black Country Car Cruise, Legal Services, City of Wolverhampton Council, Civic Centre, St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton WV1 1RG. Alternatively, email litigation@wolverhampton.gov.uk or call 01902 556556.
To see archive documentation relating to previous versions of the street racing injunction, please visit City of Wolverhampton's street racing downloads archive.
At a hearing on 26 February 2026, an application to discontinue the injunction in Dudley was permitted. Dudley Council intends to use alternative powers at its disposal to tackle street racing locally. This will not impact on the enforceability of the injunction in Sandwell, Walsall or Wolverhampton.