Road Report: Street Racing + Stunt Driving
We love to share the SALT #RoadReport, our thoughts on the latest stories, straight from the streets.
This week started out with a bang, thankfully not a literal one. While life has slowed down due to COVID-19 and its related quarantines, people are using it to speed up- this past weekend, a teen clocked 308km/hr on a major Toronto expressway. The Mercedes C 63 AMG, which belonged to the father of the 18-year-old, was seized on the roadside. The driver now has a seven-day suspension on his license, and is facing charges of stunt and dangerous driving.
Street racing is a growing concern during the quarantine. As roads empty, many are tempted to flex their speed. Unfortunately, this can have disastrous consequences for everyone on the road, with catastrophic collisions at nearly three times the posted speed limit. In this instance, the car was traveling faster than a Boeing 747 at takeoff.
This isn’t a unique case either- enforcement have seen a jump in speeds across jurisdictions. Lack of congestion on the roads has opened up thoroughfares in an unprecedented way, with Toronto Police reporting a 600% increase in stunt driving incidents between March 23 and April 27.
Social distancing and stunt driving seem to be at odds as well, with nearly 200 cars gathering in a GTA parking lot this past weekend. Reportedly doing donuts, burnouts, and apparently prepping for a Fast and Furious remake, it is clear that some are using quarantine as their opportunity break laws.
What to do?
Quarantine is an unprecedented time, and therefore, lacks the typical playbook. Road safety is paramount– staying safe on roadways and preventing collisions will reduce the loads on an already strained healthcare system. Messaging about the collective responsibility to stay safe is important, and targeting the correct audiences even more critical (your male risk taker trying to emulate Vin Diesel is a different demographic than an Ellen Degeneres-watching soccer mom).
Throughout longer quarantine periods, enforcement agencies will need to prepare for continued trends of street racing and stunt driving. While stiffer regulations and penalties may seem like an obvious solution, it may not be a politically pragmatic quick win. Focused enforcement blitzes, targeted communication campaigns, and strong partnerships will help police crack down on the drivers.
Rideshare and taxi services, as well as the general public, will benefit from a refresher on staying cool and collected behind the wheel. Street racing and stunts can distract other drivers, causing a domino effect of collisions. Regular messaging, as well as customized options related to contextual trends, help keep things fresh and relevant.
While public health agencies and organizations shift their focus to COVID-19 prevention, detection, and treatment, they will need to prepare for changing dynamics across other files. In these times, strategic partnerships are important, allowing consistent messaging through stakeholder networks, such as non-profit organizations and community groups, filling the public education gap COVID-19 may create.
Finally, the transportation industry can leverage client networks and social media presence to reinforce positive messaging. It is a responsible way to educate and inform, while staying on top of emerging trends. Tone is critical, positioning for the public good, not corporate gain.
In closing…
Tempting as it may be to write speedsters and stunt drivers off as isolated idiots, the trend is starting to gain momentum. Early data sets are still too raw (and the quarantine cycle too uncertain) to understand what will stick, but this is an important indication of changes to driver behaviour. While they are driving very fast, we won’t be able to say we didn’t see this coming. Developing a coordinated response is key to try to influence behaviour during the wild west of coronavirus.