Kacper Borowiec

Borowiec 1 Kacper Borowiec David Rumero 1411 H English/Block 4 28 April 2011 Street Racing Illegal street racing has many dangerous consequences that young people do not believe can happen to them. Something has to be done to stop this activity from happening in the streets of America. Many more precautions should be taken to make street racing much more punishable than it already is. Mostly every teenager has a need for speed when they first get to drive by themselves without any adult supervision. But are they aware that one hundred and thirty five fatal crashes occurred in 2001 that were a direct result of illegal street racing in the United States. This may be a shocking number to some, but the fact that this number is increasing rapidly every year, as fast as fifty percent compared to the previous year. Street racing isn't always fun and games as portrayed in movies like "The Fast and The Furious" and "2Fast2Furious". It usually is a very dangerous activity that to many it appears harmless and even less harmless to the people around them. If the self proclaimed invincible youth wants to play, they need to know that they have to pay. Although sometimes it may not be financially, they may end up paying with their lives for their street racing adventures. The Borowiec 2 problem of street racing will not go away by itself. People need to start being informed about this illegal activity that occurs mostly when everyone is sound asleep in their beds. Sure, street racing can let off the hook. Racers would become less punished and much less money would be spent on efforts to stop street racing. It would also be an outlet to relieve adrenaline. But to into consideration, the facts clearly state it is fatal. So a few extra dollars taken out of the state budget to make street racing more punishable would save lives. Street racing should be more punishable because illegal street racing is on the rise , becoming an increasing problem in today's youth , many street racers do not stop and realize about the serious effects of illegal street racing , it is the number one killer of youth in America , and there are many alternatives that street racers should consider before racing on the quiet streets of suburbia and gambling with their lives and most importantly everyone else's . Today's younger generation views illegal street racing as a thrilling, cool and fun activity to do with their 'racing buddies' late at night, but for many people, it's just another reason to stay home at night. Street racing is booming overnight. The sport is increasing drastically, but with it carries drastic lasting effects that one is unaware of. "According to the Specialty Equipment Market Association, the demand for engine dress-up kits, superchargers, roll cages, seat belt pads, and racing pedals has grown almost 60 percent a year in the past five Borowiec 3 years" (Parks 1). Not only do these teens race stock vehicles, but they dedicate much of their time to actually purchasing upgrades to make their "street ricer" into race cars. Street racing was once an underground activity, only known to those have participated in, but now it is becoming appealing to today's youth. "With the growing popularity, the racers are even creating online forums to help organize these death races in the darkness of the night" (Parks 15) It has become so popular in fact, that street racers are now a huge sub-culture on the internet, a place where they can discuss cars, racing, and even sell or buy parts to upgrade their vehicle. With the internet at their side, street racers will constantly be expanding their community. Many street racers believe they're almost invincible to the law. Some of them believe nothing will ever happen to them because they know what they are doing, but its these types of people that end up being affected the most. "There was about a one-in-a-million chance that might have happened" (Bender 15-17). This is what happened to one of the street racers who was so confident in his behavior. He was racing down a rural road when he slammed into the car in his path. The passenger of that car was his own mother and an elderly friend which took a ride to look at neighboring Christmas decorations. They were announced dead on the scene. This fact will haunt him for the rest of his life. "The youth of today should definitely Borowiec 4 consider their actions behind the wheel much more seriously" (Bender 70). Today's youth truly think they're invincible, as with every generation. Every generation believes they're young, believes they're supposed to have bad attitudes, and have the time of their lives. But not once, do many of them take a moment, and just look at how much potential harm they can cause. Today's teens are also driving faster cars than ever. They are getting their own cars quicker compared to all the previous generations. But with this comes also the problem that are fewer places to race without problems. With an interview with Wood, he stated "The cars these days are much faster than anything I had" (Parks 4). He is one of the few people in America who organizes legal races for young people. There are people who actually do want to help make this dangerous sport safer. This illegal activity is also becoming more and more available to today's teens, as they can easily find a late model Japanese car, and tune it efficiently for not a lot of money, which most teenagers do not possess. "You bought that Civic used for, what $6,000? Give a tuner two years and he'll spend three times that turning your economy car into the ultimate street machine" (Parks 7). The most important consequence of street racing is death and injury, which most of the childish racers do not take seriously and into their hearts, "No.1 killer of people ages 16 to 20 is vehicle-related Borowiec 5 accidents" (Miller 20) Vehicle related deaths are the number one killer, not drug and alcohol abusement. People truly do not know the extreme severity of this dangerous activity. "In recent years, a study was performed by a professor of public health in San Diego State University regarding young racers and the fatality rate. Professor Bender estimates the fatality rate among young racers at 6.5 per 1,000" (Miller 20) By comparison, the fatality among all drivers would be 1 per 1000. The results proved to be quite shocking, and worthy of front-page news. Special 'track days' at local race course/dragstrips are now being offered to the public to eliminate racing on the streets, local law enforcements want to show street racers that there are other ways to get an adrenaline rush. Authorities across the country are responding to this street racing boom by offering drivers a chance to tear their souped-up Hondas down legal drag strips. One street racer learned the hard way. Alex Duback began commuting to a legal track in New Jersey after he was arrested doing 120 mph on Rhode Island's Route 1. He says, "I spent a week in jail. Next time, I could go away for seven years. I'm done risking it" (Bender 40). Similar tracks have popped up from Las Vegas to Atlanta over the past couple of years. San Diego now funds massive weekend races at Qualcomm Stadium, and in West Palm Beach Florida, police helped create a legal strip that includes races against officers called Beat the Heat (Bender 99). These weekend races attract many new teenagers and Borowiec 6 adrenaline junkies that seek an outlet to their dangerous obsession. But many still feel that organized track racing is not enough for them because in reality these track are only opened once a week, and most require money to get in. "There are over 140 tracks participating in country, most having one street legal drag night every month. Racers are also required pay on an average of ten dollars per pass on the race track" (Bender 75). Another factor that these racers do not appreciate about 'taking it to the track' racing is the waiting period that you have to endure to race one another. When racing on the streets, the action happens instantly because of the fear of getting caught by the police. While some of this organized track racing may ease up on the illegal activities, street racing will never go away quietly. Street racing must become more punishable. If the fines become too expensive to pay, the teens will stop. It is up to them to play smart, and take the racing to the tracks where no one is truly endangered by their driving. When on the tracks, there is no fear of getting caught or mistakenly hurting or killing an innocent bystander. They are also faced with more competition at their own level when racing legally. Illegal street racing is a matter that should not be taken lightly. Many people are effected by it even if they do not participate in its activities, but most importantly it's the young drivers that are at fault most of the time. If people let it continue be an 'unnoticed' activity, the problem will surely escalate into greater proportions, with everyone fearing to sit behind the Borowiec 7 wheel and drive safely. Young people today need to start realizing that death is a possible reality and the consequences of illegal street racing.

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