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