Street racing makes a dangerous comeback
BY DR. STEVEN STYLIANOS Chief of Pediatric Surgery, Miami Children's Hospital

If you're like most Americans, you have very fond memories of your first car. Whether it was used or new, it didn't matter - you had a sense of freedom and independence like you had never experienced before. Even though you didn't have much driving experience, it didn't matter. You could go wherever you wanted, and you probably drove as fast as you could to get there. Unfortunately, this combination of speed and inexperience was often dangerous, and that danger continues today.

The most glamorized forms of speeding, street racing and drag racing, have not gone the way of your first car - they are still around, and advances in technology are making them more dangerous than ever. Whether the cars are souped-up, tricked out or just plain fast, driving these cars can be fatal - not only to the driver, but to any bystanders as well. The recent drag racing tragedy in Selmer, Tenn., in which six people were killed when a drag-racer lost control of his car during a charity fundraising event, proves that racing, even when it's legal, can be catastrophic.

While the driver of the car in the Tennessee tragedy was a professional, the rising popularity of video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Web sites like YouTube that show others racing are inspiring teens and young adults in communities across the Southeast to drive recklessly and race on well-traveled roads. In fact, according to 2005 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers between 15 and 20 years old make up 16 percent of all drivers involved in crashes and 12 percent of all drivers involved in fatal crashes. When you consider that this age group makes up only 8.5 percent of the population, the numbers become even more staggering. In order to keep your teen from being included in these statistics, try these tips:

• Be a good role model. If you see another

driver going too fast or driving recklessly, be sure to point out to your teen how dangerous it can be.

Restrict night and weekend driving. Since the majority of races happen at night and on the weekends when the roads are less traveled, placing restrictions on your teen's driving privileges during these times will help keep them safe.

• Be prepared to take away the keys. Whether your teen chooses to race, drink and drive, or excessively speed, taking away their keys will keep them and other drivers safe on the roads.

• Contact your local, state and federal representatives to petition for tougher street and drag racing laws. For example, in Southern California, officials have begun crushing cars belonging to street racers to make them think twice about souping-up and racing another car. While your community may not need laws that stringent, any additional impediment to illegal racing will help save lives.

As racing increases in popularity, keeping your teen safe and away from this dangerous trend will become even more important. By using these tips and staying informed about illegal racing in your community, you can help your teen recognize the dangers and make responsible choices.