SERIOUS INJURY AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES
It is illegal for anyone to operate a motor vehicle in a manner that poses a threat to the general public when all of the relevant factors are considered. These factors include the nature, condition, and purpose of the location at which the motor vehicle is being operated, as well as the volume of traffic that is currently present at that location or that could be reasonably expected to be there at that location at that time. A motorist who is found guilty of causing death as a result of street racing faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison in Canada. It comes with the possibility of being released on parole after serving seven years of their sentence. A motorist who is guilty of hurting another person while competing in street racing faces a possible jail sentence of up to 14 years in prison for their actions.
The age group of 16 to 24 years old is responsible for a shocking number of vehicle accidents that result in severe injury or death on Canadian highways. Although they only account for 13% of drivers on our roads (7% of male drivers and 6% of female drivers), this group is responsible for 26% of deaths and 26% of severe injuries that are the result of accidents. In addition, those aged 16 to 24 make up 31% of those who were killed and 34% of those who had severe injuries as a result of being a passenger in a vehicle involved in street racing.
Street racers in Canada are unable to manage all of the factors that come into play when they are competing on city streets, and as a result, sooner or later, they will have to deal with the repercussions of their conduct.
Despite the fact that street racing is not nearly as prevalent in Ottawa as it is in other major cities like Toronto, Ottawa Police have received a growing number of complaints over the past few years regarding street racing and vehicle equipment violations (such as loud mufflers, improper lights, and other such offenses) on city streets.
In most cases, the vehicles that are used in street racing competitions lack professional racing safety equipment, such as roll cages and racing fuel cells. Furthermore, drivers rarely wear fire suits and are not typically trained in high-performance driving, which contributes to the high rate of injuries and fatalities that occur as a result of accidents. In addition, those who participate in illegal street racing do it on public roads rather than purpose-built, closed-course facilities like Pacific Raceway. This puts regular drivers in greater danger of being involved in an accident.
Property Damage
Property damage (torn-up yards, signs, and posts being pushed down from accidents), as well as damage to the fences or gates sealing off an area (industrial parks, etc.), may occur when racing takes place in locations where it is not sanctioned. Because the culture of street racing sets a very high social value on a fast car, individuals who ordinarily may not be able to purchase vehicles that are blazingly fast but also highly costly may seek to steal them, either violently or in another manner.
Criminal Organization
Additionally, street racers have the propensity to create teams that compete in races together. The suggestion made in the preceding paragraph is that these teams may be engaged in organized criminal behavior or gang involvement. On top of that, according to the policy of the Automobile Competition Committee for Canada, individuals who race on public roads in violation of the law could have their competition license suspended, revoked, or prevented from obtaining one altogether. This would be based on personal conduct charges that include racing on a public road.
Illegal Gambling
Street racing that is connected with gang activity or other forms of organized crime may often include the use of violence or other illegal activities, such as gambling. In some cases prostitution is involved as a “reward” for the winner of the competition.
At Right Track Racing, our focus is not only to persuade street racers to take it to the track, but to also develop the character and skill of our youth so they become successful in life.
We are here to serve as a resource for anybody who has questions about racing or driving. We are racers ourselves and have a deep-seated interest in racing automobiles. Our goal is to engage with members of the community who have interests that are comparable to our own and serve as a guide for them as they learn how to race vehicles in a way that is both safe, legal and responsible.