Drag Racing: The Concern and Solution

ILLEGAL drag racing continues to take place in KwaZulu-Natal despite ongoing efforts by the authorities to clamp down on it. But there is a solution: the setting up of proper facilities where people can legally race their fast vehicles.

Superintendent Theuns van Heerden, head of Durban Metro Police’s special enforcement unit, has described illegal drag racing as "highly dangerous".

"Young people get together as often as twice a week to race their extremely fast cars on public roads in different areas of KZN. The souped up vehicles are driven at 200km per hour, and there is always the danger of an unsuspecting member of the public landing in the middle of the race.

"Many drivers are young and inexperienced, and coupled with this, they have had no training in high speed driving. Alcohol also plays a part. There were occasions when spectators were killed. We are strongly against this illegal activity. We have arrested people involved."

Superintendent van Heerden said not only the drivers faced dangers but also the spectators who lined the streets.

"What is also unfortunate is that while a great deal of money is spent to modify the engines for speed, the steering and braking systems are left unaltered to handle the high speed."

The solution, he said, was to establish proper facilities where young people could legally race their vehicles. The nearest speed track for people living in Durban, for instance, was at Richards Bay, a two-hour drive.

A speed track and racing events should meet some of the following requirements:

• Have a straight flat racing surface of about 1.2km long
• Have a fenced off area for spectators
• Ensure the wearing of crash helmets
• Check vehicles for safety before the race
• Have trained officials to control the sport
• Ensure the race organising body is affiliated to Motorsport South Africa

In April this year, Sapa reported that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) arrested more than 100 people at an illegal drag-racing event at Nasrec outside Soweto.

"Residents of Diepkloof, and nearby areas using the Nasrec Road coming in and out of Soweto, had for far too long endured the inconvenience of not being able to use the road as it is often closed off from 10pm on Thursdays during this dangerous and illegal pastime," said a police spokesman.

Among those arrested were 45 drivers, who were charged with reckless driving, with 15 paying admission of guilt fines. People were also arrested for criminal activity.

The department said the situation created conditions conducive to breeding crime, especially vehicle theft, public drinking and drug peddling, illegal road closures, as well as drunken driving and loitering.

"We are serious about ensuring that residents of Johannesburg live in a crime-free, healthy and secure environment," said JMPD Chief Chris Nqcobo.

The clampdown on drag racing would intensify. Public roads belonged to the public, he said.

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