Street Racing Increases the Risk of Auto Accidents
The popularity of the Fast and the Furious movies over the last 16 years has been a boon to movies studios. Yet perhaps these films caused people to take risks on the road that they shouldn't have taken. We're speaking of street racing, which can occur in city streets, on highways, and even in places where cars may not be allowed. Street races are illegal, and they may be deadly.
The team at our Daytona Beach law firm would like to consider auto accidents caused by speeding and recklessness. As you'll read, these kinds of collisions are avoidable and should not be tolerated.
Street Racing Statistics
Though these numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are from 2001, they tell a sad story about street racing and the dangers it can pose. The NHTSA estimated that in 2001, street races caused a total of 135 fatal collisions. There were just 72 street race fatalities in the previous year. In just 2001 alone, Florida police officers issued 7,216 citations for people racing on the highway.
Increased speed and aggressive driving behaviors are a recipe for disaster, and make collisions more likely.
Dangers Caused by Street Races
There are a few key dangers to street races:
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Harm to the Drivers and Passengers Racing – Anyone in the vehicle of a car that is racing is putting themselves at risk for serious injury.
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Harm to Motorists on Highways – If people are driving reckless around you on the highway, there's a chance you may be struck by people who are racing or speeding.
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Harm to Motorists on City Streets – On city streets, risk of collisions are quite high, especially since intersections may not be blocked off from these illegal street races.
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Danger to Pedestrians and Others Sharing the Road – Pedestrians, bicyclists, and others sharing the road may be struck by racers on city streets and suburban streets, which can result in catastrophic and fatal injuries.
Trends Among Young Male Drivers
Racing, speeding, and other reckless behaviors behind the wheel are most common among young male drivers. Some studies suggest that 39 percent of male drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were killed on the road were speeding at the time. These trends continue among men throughout their twenties, with young males exhibiting a greater tendency to speed and take unnecessary risks than older men or women of all ages.
Parents need to stress cautious behavior while driving a car, and ensure that their children understand the importance of all rules of the road.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
If you or someone you love was harmed as a result of a street race, our legal team can help the driver and/or other parties accountable. We will seek damages for medical expenses, emergency services, physical rehabilitation, and other losses associated with this senseless act.
Contact Our Auto Accident Lawyers
If you or a member of your family was injured because of street racers or reckless drivers, we encourage you to contact our team of personal injury and wrongful death lawyers today. Our law firm will fight diligently for you every step of the way.