| It's not an uncommon sight. Two vehicles line-up | | | | person (the majority are young) can get into |
| at a streetlight, one challenges | | | | their 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 | | | | streets for their day-to-day activities.So what |
| going on ever since the days of the | | | | are the solutions. Racing on our streets will never |
| Model T Ford. Over the years, speeds have | | | | stop, 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 |
| careless actions have never changed. Thousands | | | | friends, challenge someone to a race, |
| of accidents occur each year due to | | | | and come back to the same parking lot once the |
| thoughtless, aggressive driving on our streets. | | | | race is over. Some cities |
| But the trend continues to grow. | | | | recognized this and have opened drag strips for |
| Movies like The Fast and The Furious have | | | | people to race, socialize and |
| helped to spread the virtues of street | | | | interact. For a small fee, they can prove |
| racing. Movies like these don't show innocent | | | | themselves in a safe, supervised |
| victims getting hurt, but rather they | | | | environment. This is also a great way to |
| portray the characters as misunderstood good | | | | integrate local police with the participants. |
| guys 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 | | | | authorities need to control it. Larger |
| accept the notion that street racing | | | | fines won't reduce street racing. Hundreds of |
| doesn't hurt anyone when everything they see in | | | | people have died racing on the streets |
| movies confirms it. Videos of | | | | in this country and if the possibility of death |
| illegal street races are downloaded off the web | | | | doesn't stop someone, a fine won't |
| at a 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 | | | | only way to reduce street racing is to |
| dangers in it.Racing is not a bad thing. In fact, it's | | | | provide an outlet for which it can occur. Until |
| an exciting sport that requires training, | | | | then, 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 | | | | |