Motorists have been warned of a terrifying ordeal along a major A road after a group of young people were caught throwing rocks onto nearby traffic from a footbridge.
The dangerous acts have resulted in significant vehicle damage exceeding £800 and created potentially lethal situations for drivers.
Multiple incidents have been reported along the A3 in Petersfield since schools closed for the holidays, with at least two serious attacks occurring last week.
The reckless behaviour has prompted heightened police presence in the area and urgent appeals for parental intervention.
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|Drivers have been warned of rocks thrown from a footbridge along the A3
The stone-throwing has shattered windscreens and forced drivers to make emergency stops on the busy dual carriageway, creating hazardous conditions that could have resulted in fatal collisions.
National Highways revealed that one driver was journeying from Camberley towards Fareham at approximately 5.20pm when stones struck his vehicle beneath the bridge.
The impact created a deafening crash that prompted him to immediately pull onto the roadside and contact emergency services.
"There was a very loud, very scary bang. I pulled up onto the grass verge and called the police. There was glass everywhere. Police said to stay with the vehicle, and they would come and assist. I looked around and saw two teenagers on the bridge; they ran away," he recounted.
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
|Police have stepped up patrols in the area to stop pedestrians from throwing rocks
Another victim was returning from his workplace when he was met with the same issue of rocks thrown by pedestrians from the footbridge.
The driver said: "I can't imagine for one moment that the teenagers involved were trying to kill anyone, but that could easily have been the consequence of their actions.
"There's a fine line between wrong and right, and there's a difference between having fun and killing someone. That kind of 'entertainment' could kill someone."
Dan French echoed these sentiments, describing the ordeal as unacceptable. "The fright my son was put through, plus the danger of having to stop on a live carriageway, is unacceptable," he said.
The financial burden on the victims extends beyond the immediate shock of the attacks, with the impacted driver warning that he is "out of pocket" and unable to commute while awaiting repairs to the vehicle and has been forced to pay £150 excess towards the claim for the windscreen.
The authorities have responded with grave concern to these incidents, with Colin Evans, Regional Safety Programme Manager for National Highways in the South East, stressing the potentially devastating outcomes of such actions.
He warned: "Road safety is a shared responsibility, and the implications of throwing any object from a bridge onto the carriageway could have catastrophic consequences. It's extremely lucky that no one has been harmed because of these mindless acts."
Meanwhile, Hampshire Police have intensified their response to the crisis with Chief Inspector Alex Charge, District Commander for East Hants and Havant, confirming the awareness of multiple reports involving youths targeting vehicles from A3 bridges in Petersfield.
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|Drivers have had to fork out hundreds of pounds for repairs due to the rocks (stock)
"This is extremely dangerous and puts motorists at serious risk of harm. Fortunately, no one has been injured, but vehicles have been damaged, and the community is rightly concerned about this," he stated.
Law enforcement has pledged enhanced surveillance of the area, with officers stating that they will pay particular attention to this area while on patrol.
"Anyone with information about this type of behaviour, or anyone involved, should report this to the police," Charge added.
The police have issued a direct plea to families: "We encourage parents to speak to their children about the very real and significant consequences of engaging in this type of behaviour."