It's not an uncommon sight. Two vehicles line-up at a streetlight, one challenges the other, and once the green light appears they take off as fast as they know how. Illegal street racing is not a new thing. It's been going on ever since the days of the Model T Ford. Over the years, speeds have increased and with the advent of cell phones and GPS systems, so has the technology. But the consequences of these careless actions have never changed. Thousands of accidents occur each year due to thoughtless, aggressive driving on our streets. But the trend continues to grow. Movies like The Fast and The Furious have helped to spread the virtues of street racing. Movies like these don't show innocent victims getting hurt, but rather they portray the characters as misunderstood good guys who have a passion for cars. It's easy to see how young people are able to accept the notion that street racing doesn't hurt anyone when everything they see in movies confirms it. Videos of illegal street races are downloaded off the web at a growing rate only to fuel the desires of those who are unable to see the dangers in it.
Racing is not a bad thing. In fact, it's an exciting sport that requires training, discipline and skill. But the streets are no place for racing. Unfortunately, any young person (the majority are young) can get into their car, mash the throttle and drive. No experience, no talent, no discipline. All of this while innocent drivers use the streets for their day-to-day activities.
So what are the solutions. Racing on our streets will never stop, but it can be reduced. What needs to be understood is that street racing is a social activity. People gather in a parking lot, hang out with friends, challenge someone to a race, and come back to the same parking lot once the race is over. Some cities recognized this and have opened drag strips for people to race, socialize and interact. For a small fee, they can prove themselves in a safe, supervised environment. This is also a great way to integrate local police with the participants. In order to reduce racing on our streets, local authorities need to control it. Larger fines won't reduce street racing. Hundreds of people have died racing on the streets in this country and if the possibility of death doesn't stop someone, a fine won't either.
In the end we need to understand that the only way to reduce street racing is to provide an outlet for which it can occur. Until then, the masses will do what they know they'll continue to race on our streets.
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» left by kelly jensen from malo washington (2 years 221 days ago.)
i like how u said that larger fines will not stop people becuse death has not!!!! Respond to this comment
» left by Hunter from Crittenden, Ky (331 days 4 hours ago.)
yes this article vey helpful to me Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (279 days 5 hours ago.)
if hundreds of people die street racing and it is illegal then since thousands dies each year from just regular accidents shouldn't driving be illegal Respond to this comment
» left by andrew from texas (223 days 6 hours ago.)
i race my truck and i hangout with people that race for fun and money
and i dont like how the cops stop imports that are tuned its gay now
there is a time and place for it like at night on the highway or back
roads so yall just need to get off our ass's for it ,its our lives we
play the game we can handle the debt that comes with it Respond to this comment
» left by brb from ddffv (182 days 1 hour ago.)
amen
» left by Anonymous (168 days ago.)
you guys are retarded! "there is a time and place"..i'm glad you dont care about your lives, but i'm sure many of the innocent drivers on the road with you do. You can easily kill other people..SELFISH!
» left by Camille from California (63 days 10 hours ago.)
I'm sorry you feel this way. My brother just lost his 18 year old son to street racing. He and his 17 year old passanger died instantly. Their bodies were unrecignizable. My brother, his wife and daughter are absolutely devasted. Their lives will never be the same. Their son was a good kid, with good grades and a Christian, but made a fatal mistake. Are whole family is deeply grieved by this. There were 1188 people at his funeral. This pain and suffering has affected many people. Please think twice about all the people you will be hurting if a terrible tradgety happened to you. Don't do this to people who love. God bless you and keep you safe.
Our lives are never supposed to be the same, you live your same life everyday. I'm not going to shed a tear for something like this. Guess what, your in for a world of and successes in your lifetime. All you can do is prepare yourself as best you can.Another loved one of yours may die tomorrow, and if you can't appreciate them now then you deserve the shock of being left without them later. Racing is a choice, plain and simple. Personally I think spending most of your life in a cubicle is more threatening to your life, or collecting 70 cats to live with you. You don't see me slapping a cigarette out of your mouth because smoking kills so don't kick my car because it kills. Your already dead, love while you can, live while you can...
» left by giovanni from white center (199 days 5 hours ago.)
thats so cool and i think rasing should be legal because its fun when you win money and its all about american muscle boy i drive a 2001 camaro 900hp
» left by jon doe from grenada, MS (13 days 5 hours ago.)
yeah you think "rasing" is cool and should be legal but its moron's like you that get people killed..you can't even spell..besides i agree that there is a time and a place for racing..and its not every red light you pull up to..i'm an avid street racer and i get embarrased everytime i see some kids racing randomly from red lights..thats not how its done and there is no reward..learn how to do it right..
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