Teen Street Racing: The Problem and the Solution

Offering Safe Alternatives

If you regularly watch nightly news programs, you have probably seen at least one special about reckless teenage driving. These stories often describe the dangers that are associated with practices such as street racing, but they do not pose any good solutions.

As young people enter adulthood, they are given rights that were previously forbidden. It is natural for teens to explore their new found rights. Street racing and other reckless behavior behind the wheel are some of the outlets that young people use to test the limits of their privileges. Street racing is a very dangerous activity. Usually, the racing is done on deserted side-streets, but at times it can occur on main streets as well. When adrenaline starts pumping, teens are especially susceptible to lose their judgment and put others at risk.

Street racing can occur for several reasons. Some race for pride or money, while others race for fun. You might expect that law enforcement would help solve the problem, but it many cases this isn't true. Police tactics don’t always help the situation. In parking lots in cities across the country, young people meet on Friday and Saturday nights to show off their cars. In these environments, people are more concerned with talking and having a good time than driving fast. The problem occurs when police force the loitering young drivers to leave their parking spaces. Without a place to gather they take to the streets. When there are a high proportion of young drivers and fast cars on the street, teens feel invincible. There are too many cars for law enforcement to keep track of, and a mob mentality develops. Too often, nights like these can end in tragedy.

The truth is that forcing drivers out onto the streets does not solve any problems; it creates them. If cities are truly concerned with the welfare of their young people, there are several steps that they can take to curb the problem of street racing.