What Is Street Racing?

Street racing often occurs at night in remote locations.

Street racing is an illegal activity in which several drivers race each other on public streets. Often a crowd of spectators gather to cheer on the drivers. Because the activity is impromptu, unsanctioned and fails to meet professional racing-industry safety standards, there is a risk of injury to not only the drivers and spectators, but also innocent passersby.

History

Street racing in America began in the 1950s according to a report by Community Oriented Policing Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Films like "Rebel Without a Cause" and "American Graffiti" popularized the pastime. In 2001 street racing experienced a boost in popularity when the film "The Fast and the Furious" reintroduced America to the street-racing subculture. The Department of Justice's report notes that although the filmmakers warned moviegoers of the dangers inherent to street-racing, it is likely that the film encouraged people to try it.

Features

Several distinct groups of people are likely to participate in street racing, according to the Department of Justice's report. The first group is those between the ages of 18 and 24 years old who still live at home and do not have much income. The second group is largely white males between the ages of 25 to 40 who tend to race muscle cars (which the report defines as Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs and similar cars). The third group is predominantly Asian and Hispanic males of a variety of ages. This last group favors late-model imported cars (Hondas, Acuras, Mitsubishi and Nissans).

Significance

Street racing poses distinct risks to the community in which it occurs. For example, the Department of Justice reports that many local police departments suspect street-racing participants of engaging in illegal activities to support their constant need for new and better automotive parts. As far as the danger presented by the racing itself, the report notes that the data is unclear and hard to come by. But the report does cite an unofficial estimate that concluded "at least 50 people die each year as a result of street-racing."

Function

Street-racing events occur at night in relatively unpopulated locations, such as a hidden street in a remote industrial area. Besides the drivers themselves, there are also lookouts who use police scanners and cell phones to monitor any nearby law-enforcement activity. Some street-racing subcultures use websites to report the activities of the night before, including crowd size and links to police agencies so participants can see if a warrant has been issued for their arrest.

Expert Insight

The report says there are some community factors that can lead to an increase in street racing. For example, a community with car clubs, gangs, remote roadways, and a lack of alternative activities for youths is more likely to have a street-racing problem than a community that does not share these features.

References

• US Department of Justice: Street Racing (PDF)

Resources

• Ithaca University: An Introduction to Street-Racing, a Burgeoning Subculture