| It's not an uncommon sight. Two vehicles line-up at a | | | | youngperson (the majority are young) can get into their |
| streetlight, one challengesthe other, and once the green | | | | car, mash the throttle and drive. |
| light appears they take off as fast as they know how. | | | | No experience, no talent, no discipline. All of this while |
| Illegal street racing is not a new thing. It's been going on | | | | innocent drivers use thestreets for their day-to-day |
| ever since the days of the | | | | activities. |
| Model T Ford. Over the years, speeds have increased | | | | So what are the solutions. Racing on our streets will |
| and with the advent of cellphones and GPS systems, | | | | never stop, but it can bereduced. What needs to be |
| so has the technology. But the consequences of | | | | understood is that street racing is a social activity. |
| thesecareless actions have never changed. | | | | People gather in a parking lot, hang out with friends, |
| Thousands of accidents occur each year due | | | | challenge someone to a race,and come back to the |
| tothoughtless, aggressive driving on our streets. But the | | | | same parking lot once the race is over. Some |
| trend continues to grow. | | | | citiesrecognized this and have opened drag strips for |
| Movies like The Fast and The Furious have helped to | | | | people to race, socialize andinteract. For a small fee, |
| spread the virtues of streetracing. Movies like these | | | | they can prove themselves in a safe, |
| don't show innocent victims getting hurt, but rather | | | | supervisedenvironment. This is also a great way to |
| theyportray the characters as misunderstood good | | | | integrate local police with the participants. |
| guys who have a passion for cars. It'seasy to see | | | | In order to reduce racing on our streets, local |
| how young people are able to accept the notion that | | | | authorities need to control it. Largerfines won't reduce |
| street racingdoesn't hurt anyone when everything they | | | | street racing. Hundreds of people have died racing on |
| see in movies confirms it. Videos ofillegal street races | | | | the streetsin this country and if the possibility of death |
| are downloaded off the web at a growing rate only to | | | | doesn't stop someone, a fine won'teither. |
| fuel thedesires of those who are unable to see the | | | | In the end we need to understand that the only way to |
| dangers in it. | | | | reduce street racing is toprovide an outlet for which it |
| Racing is not a bad thing. In fact, it's an exciting sport | | | | can occur. Until then, the masses will do what |
| that requires training,discipline and skill. But the streets | | | | theyknow; they'll continue to race on our streets. |
| are no place for racing. Unfortunately, any | | | | |