Street racing Mustang vs Vette = tragedy

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by SSRider

I could really go off here but I will tone it down (on the subject matter not the person posting).

Your are missing the point (no offense, I respect your opinion) but the Doc is correct. The synaptic connections are not fully hooked up to the prefrontal cortex until about age 21 or so . I am not a Doc but I learned this many years ago at a parenting class that I and my wife attended. This does not mean that they (young people) are not capable of learning highly skilled tasks such as competative driving or any other sport for that matter. However their ability to know their limits, make judgements and asses risks are not that of a fully developed adult brain especially under stressful conditions or when highly aroused. I have two sons ages 23 and 17 i have observed this in a loving manner with both. When my oldest was a teenager, he never drove my 500hp Vette (alone) for that reason and niether will my youngest drive my SS alone. Drivers Ed is not the answer (at least not in its current form), this has been tried for many years with little or no improvement in teenage drivers. I know the stats here because I work for a large auto insurance company. Students with better grades are typically more responsible drivers. But as a parent you can't beat the shit out of your kids until they get good grades. This sort of defeats the purpose and goes against being a role model for your kids. BTW one other important factoid that comes to mind is the impact of alcohol consumption on the imature brain.....let's just say that it's scary I was unable to show enough evidence to my oldest son to impact a decision to say no to boose, he started drinking around age 16. However I stopped drinking alcohol three years ago and this plus education has my youngest son (17 years) alcohol, smoke and drug free, so far. Parents can have a significant impact on their children by repeatedly demonstating the type of behaviors that are responsible. It frustrates me when our children die needlesly. I should zip my thoughts here

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

when I was young I got grounded from my car ( a '93 camaro lt ) for a week. I played nothing but Need for Speed Underground the entire week, and when I got my car back I somehow forgot that game physics dont = real physics.... yeaaah, doing 40 and looked up to see a T intersection about 25 ft away. Managed to swing it around, but then put it in the oppoisite ditch LUCKILY no one got got hurt (out in the country, on gravel roads too) and there wasn't any damage to my car.

LOL.. I too after playing any racing game go a little faster the next time I get in a car.. It's only natural..

[The_Blur]

Street racing is dangerous and unnecessary. Keep it at the track.

Originally Posted by greenrail

I am sure the stats will indicate that because of sheer numbers pointing at young people. But, being an old fart, I see way too many dipsh*ts out there driving like morons. Sitting in the left lane much slower than the flow of traffic. Turning like their car has a worse case of arthritis than their knees. Driving and not paying attention to anything but what they may or may not see ahead. and the list goes on and on.

Sorry about my Obvious Venting here!!

I have been behind way too many of those drivers also.

And don't get me started about morons on the phone running up my baskside with bulging eyeballs because they aren't paying attention. Espcially when I am moving quit nicely at the appropriate speed of the flow of traffic.

Yeah, it's all over the map in terms of inattentive drivers and incompetent drivers.

This sort of passive endangerment of other people on the road also needs to be handled. Racing is actively endangering other people. Driving slowly on the left, not using blinkers, or making slow maneuvers creates obstacles in the line of traffic that others have to avoid, also leading to accidents. Racing accidents tend to be the result of young drivers who are overconfident in their abilities. Other types of accidents may be the fault of the old driver or that soccer-badged minivan that drives too slow or turns without regard to the speed of traffic. While police are sure to put the blame on the guy behind these cars or in front of them, some cars just don't have the same quality of breaks as the cars driven by incompetent soccer moms, retired persons, or other incompetent drivers.

[Mindz]

If you're going to race, do it out int he middle of nowhere so in the slight chance (0.000000000000000000001%) you do lose control of your car, you only take yourself out.

Yes that number is for the people that know they'll never lose control, not realistic.


BTW, NEVER race anything with a passenger, unless it's wrc.

I feel terrible for the lexus driver and the passenger's family...

[marcgo2]

Unfortunately a lot of the time, kids and adults, don't learn until things hit close to home. So maybe the families and friends affected by this tradgedy will realize the dangers of street racing and some good can come from it.