Time and place, just like anything else.
I will make that statement, because its true. No one said doing 120 down a road was ok even if you aren't racing anyone.
Edit: I am making that statement because the people who can typically afford the cars are "older" and some don't have the need to race people.
I don't really have a dog in this fight, but I heavily disagree. There is a massive difference in street racing through in traffic with another person vs spirited driving by yourself on an empty road. "Spirited" driving on a busy road is also asinine.
I think most people would be far more comfortable with the thought of street racing if it was done only on deserted roads that were blocked off from any innocent drivers. The only concern at that point is when one of the spectators is run over by a car that gets loose and there is no help available for 30 minutes, but you reap what you sow.
street racing is a stupid activity engaged in by single digit IQ idiots. there is no reason for it, and no excuses for it. you want to race take it to the track otherwise you get what you ask for when you wreck and you wind up in jail.
- In 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that police listed street racing as a factor in 135 fatal crashes. The total was up from 72 street-racing-related fatalities reported in 2000.
- According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, more than 800 citations for illegal street racing were issued in 2001.
- In San Diego, where the street racing problem has been termed "epidemic," 16 deaths and 31 injuries were directly related to illegal street racing in 2001. The city's attorney's office prosecuted 147 illegal street racing cases in 1999, 161 in 2000, and 290 in 2001.
- In Florida in 2001, 7,216 citations were issued for racing on the highway.
- In 1999, the Florida Department of Highway and Safety for Motor Vehicles reported 28 accidents related to illegal street racing, with 2 fatalities and 27 injuries. In 2000, the agency reported 39 racing accidents, with 1 fatality and 55 injuries. In 2002, there were 48 racing accidents, 1 fatality, and 60 injuries...
However, one study shows between 1998-2001, there where 149,568 traffic deaths. A STAGGERING 315 where related to street racing (0.002%).
if you disagree with street racing, then you also disagree with speeding. so does that mean you never go over the speed limit to stay "safe" and obey the law?
... You try to turn right onto a road when you have to yield to other traffic. Your brain is expecting traffic to be moving reasonably close to the speed limit, not 40 mph above.
And that's why I don't turn right on red if there's any traffic approaching within 100 yards or so. That leaves plenty of space for them to slow down and/or me to match whatever speed they're going (in my GT500.)
Depends on how fast. Lots of roads are safer to travel faster than the speed limit, as the speed limit is supposed to take into account less than perfect conditions, like if its raining out and if there are 30 year old cars that have no business on the road. Plus the general public typically has less than stellar driving abilities. Traffic can safely move 10-15 mph above the speed limit in many areas. 1 or two cars doing 40 mph faster than traffic is not safe.
Especially in town. You try to turn right onto a road when you have to yield to other traffic. Your brain is expecting traffic to be moving reasonably close to the speed limit, not 40 mph above.
I'm ROTFLMAO at those of you trying to justify street racing.
U.M.
Just so we are clear...There is a reasonable limit to overall speed and how fast you get there, all depending on local conditions and the ability of the drivers in question......so long as another car is not doing the exact same thing right next to it?
Do you not see the hypocrisy of your statement? You cannot justify spirited driving or speeding, both of which kill far far more people (both bystanders and participants) , without justifying street racing as well. The literal only difference is adding an additional car.
Theres a 3-4 mile stretch of road, totally flat and straight, by my childhood home. There's no situation (say broad daylight, 75 degrees with zero traffic) where two cars cannot accelerate side by side....But its ok for one?
I used to own a Yaris for a DD. What if I went there and raced another Yaris? This is inherently more unsafe than someone doing 10 mph over on a twisty road?
Nonsense.
Are you trying to be funny?
I should have used some punctuation as I was changing thoughts. The intent was to say A. Cars in general are faster today than in years past. B. I would love to open up my mustang on an airstrip.
I was definitely not talking about racing the wife's camry. That would be a truly sad sight to behold. And actually sounds kinda funny in retrospect
Just so we are clear...There is a reasonable limit to overall speed and how fast you get there, all depending on local conditions and the ability of the drivers in question......so long as another car is not doing the exact same thing right next to it?
Do you not see the hypocrisy of your statement? You cannot justify spirited driving or speeding, both of which kill far far more people (both bystanders and participants) , without justifying street racing as well. The literal only difference is adding an additional car.
Theres a 3-4 mile stretch of road, totally flat and straight, by my childhood home. There's no situation (say broad daylight, 75 degrees with zero traffic) where two cars cannot accelerate side by side....But its ok for one?
I used to own a Yaris for a DD. What if I went there and raced another Yaris? This is inherently more unsafe than someone doing 10 mph over on a twisty road?
Nonsense.
Street racing is stupid no matter where it is done. don't know if you remember or even read about the prince georges street racing crash that killed a bunch of people at 2 am because of a street race but that is proof positive that the who "race where nobody is" argument is bullshit. Indian head highway is a four lane highway that is all but deserted that time of the morning. what they did not count on was a 2nd street race coming down the deserted street.^Agree 100%. The way I see it, the streetracing on roads with other cars present is selfish and moronic. You're endangering innocent drivers simply trying to get to their B, all for your entertainment. However, you race out on hidden roads with no other traffic present, you're basically taking more responsibility and accepting the odds of something going wrong happening to you and no others..
This really isn't a good example.
If the same amount of people street raced, as drove "spiritedly" or above the speed limit, the amount of street racing deaths would be astronomically higher.
That's like saying you have a better chance of dying in a car accident rather than a motorcycle accident, only because annually more people die in car accidents. Even though you are 26x more likely to die on a bike than in a car, because bikes make up such a small percentage of the actual traffic.
I would have no room to tell someone they can't or shouldn't street race given that I have before.