By Skye Milburn and Alex Hendricksen
There has been an unfortunate uptick in fatal crashes around the bay area. According to Vitalsigns.gov, more than 472 people died in car crashes in 2024, or around 1.3 people per day. We think we’re protected in our safe little bubble, but this epidemic is starting to trickle in from neighboring cities to Benicia. Street racers are taking over Vallejo and the surrounding Lake Herman Road due to a lack of police enforcement. From sideshows to full-blown races, we cannot escape these dangerous drivers. This poses the question of where these drivers come from, why they are doing this, and what can be done to prevent this in the future?
Benicia High School students are notoriously poor drivers. I’ve been victim to one of them in the past as I’ve been run into by a student as I was leaving Benicia. Unfortunately, these same students are actually partaking in street racing activities. This raises questions about how safe our roadways are, and perhaps the requirements for children to obtain a California driver’s license should be changed. Stricter law enforcement may be another option, as Benicia police have been known to disregard this area of the city and instead focus their resources downtown.
We’re starting to see our community getting frustrated by these dangerous drivers. On local sites, such as Benicia Happenings, we can see how people really feel. Many people expressed concerns about certain drivers that were not only driving erratically on Lake Herman roads or other places out in the country but also in places with much more foot traffic, such as First Street and Military West.
The street races not only put the drivers in danger but also cause traffic problems. Streets like Lake Herman have been heavily backed up or even blocked off due to these races. There have been laws passed to try to reduce the amount of street racing, such as threatening a 6-month suspension of a driver’s license for participating in a sideshow, even just as a spectator. However, laws such as these haven’t changed a whole lot, as street racing and sideshows have been as abundant as ever.
Drivers use social media apps like Instagram to announce races, sideshow times, and places to meet up. Even if police catch the location of the meet, they usually just relocate before they get caught. Evasion is usually part of the fun for racers.
There are many risks involved with street racing, such as increased risk of crashes, severe injuries, and fatalities. These injuries can lead to long-term disabilities that can ultimately lead to a lifetime of pain for a little bit of fun. Many street racers disregard the safety of others, which may lead to innocent bystanders facing the same fate.
To understand their motives for breaking the law and evading officers, we must get inside their minds and community. Fortunately, we have some insider information from someone who used to partake in these activities. This individual unfortunately began partaking in these events as young as 16. When asked about why they street race, he says that, “No other feeling compares to the adrenaline that you get when breaking the law and going fast.” Another reason that he chose to partake in these dangerous activities is because he felt shunned by society and didn’t fit in.
Our resident street racer also says that unless you have a very high level of skill, it is completely outrageous and dangerous to be going 170+ miles per hour through traffic. He said that they have been doing it for a long enough time to gain skills that help to minimize their risk to themselves and others.
You must have the ability to scan every car and be able to predict the movement of everyone around you. According to our driver, it’s worth it if you have the skills to do it. However, many people are unable to control a vehicle to this extent while keeping others safe. Fortunately, our driver has given up this life. He says that he has “have — in their life now, and I don’t want to lose her.”
Though they get a bad rap, street racers are just like us—ordinary people seeking excitement in their lives. However, it is extremely illegal, and it takes a major toll on society and is a trend that shouldn’t have gotten so popular. The number of lives ruined and families torn apart due to serious injuries and fatalities from street racing is not worth the pleasure gained from participating.
beniciapaw.com 