All that is left is heartache, pain and grief of the families of 3 young men aged 17 to 22 that were STREET RACING! Aged 17, 22 and 18, the young men were NOT wearing seat belts! The men were in two cars that were racing on Central Ave in Phoenix when one car hit a wall, the other slammed into a tree. Every thing was done to try to save one man who was trapped. The other two were thrown from a car that hit a tree which caught on fire.
Phoenix Police stated Monday that “Speed and lack of seat bets usage were the major factors in their death”. These young men were probably traveling at a speed about 80 mph which causes reaction time to be as long as a football field!
I wanted to get some statistics on street racing so I went to http://stop-street-racing.org/street-racing-stats.htm
Consider the following stats from NHRA, compiled from a variety of national and state transportation agencies, and it’s easy to see the answer is to take it to the track.
- 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.
- According to the NHTSA, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 16 and 20.
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says 5,749 teens died in the United States from motor vehicle crash injuries in 1999.
- Nationwide statistics show that 49 people are injured for every 1,000 who participate in illegal street racing
Early-morning street racing crash in Phoenix, Photo by 12 NEWS Phoenix
PLEASE KNOW: Street racing is NEVER appropriate! That is what race tracks with a controlled environment and driver safety equipment are for. Where does street racing get you?
- You can be arrested and have your car impounded or crushed.
- If convicted of street racing or aiding and abetting a street race, you can be imprisoned for up to three months and fined up to $1,000. Spectators are subject to penalties as well.
- Your driver’s license can be revoked.
- Your car insurance may be cancelled or the rates dramatically increased. Upon a crash, you will not be covered by your insurance policy.
These punishments don’t include when others are harmed, injured or killed!
These men learned a very hard lesson that leaves their families destroyed by their actions. Let’s also think about the residents safety nearby. What if they had hit a home or innocent people walking near the street? More lives could have been tragically affected! Local media outlets have reported on this story and I have the links below.
PD: 3 dead in apparent street-racing crash along Central Avenue in Phoenix,
abc15.com staff , Sonu Wasu http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/one-dead-in-apparent-street-racing-crash-along-central-avenue-in-phoenix
Family grieves teen killed in Phoenix street racing crash KPNX, 12 News Phoenix, Trisha Hendricks http://www.12news.com/news/local/valley/family-grieves-teen-killed-in-phoenix-street-racing-crash/333501510
3 men pay the ultimate price for street racing! STREET RACING IN NEVER APPROPRIATE!