Some people don’t know very much about street racing. What they do know about it they might have seen from a “Fast and Furious” movie. That is a highly-stylized version of what happens, but essentially, those movies have it right.

Street racing, which the participants sometimes call “speed tests,” is illegal in every state. There are some regions where it happens quite a bit, though, particularly in Southern California and parts of the Southwest. Street racers vie for glory and prize money.

Street racing can have some unintended consequences, and none of them are good. Let’s look at some of those right now.

Death

The NHTSA, or National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reports that with drivers aged 16 to 20, car accidents are the leading death cause. That means licensed drivers in that age group die in car wrecks more than they die from:

• Suicide
• Drug overdoses

Between ages 15 and 23, you will find most street racing participants. There is definitely a correlation that no intelligent person could ignore.

If you decide you’re going to participate in one of these races, you could kill yourself or someone else if your car goes out of control and smashes into the spectators. Also, since these are illegal gatherings with big money on the line, there are sometimes disputes over who won or the bets people make.

Gunfire and mayhem at these events are not uncommon since gang members often attend. You can catch a stray bullet, even if you’re not driving.

Severe Injuries

Car crash injuries are no joke. If you participate in a street race, you might suffer:

• Broken bones
• A traumatic brain injury

Car accidents cause things like concussions all the time, and that’s just from a typical crash. If you’re street racing, you could be going well over one hundred miles per hour when the collision occurs.

If so, the chance of you hitting your head and falling into a coma is high. You could easily break most of your bones and end up in a full-body cast. You might sustain spinal cord damage and never walk again.

Young people usually feel like they are invincible, but if you get in a high-speed wreck, you will soon learn that’s not the case. Also, since these events are illegal, you can’t very well call for an ambulance if something happens to you. The best you can hope for is that the participants will dump your broken body in front of a hospital.

You Can Get Arrested

Because these are illicit gatherings, you might face arrest if the police show up. If you’re just attending, they might find something with which to charge you, but if you’re racing, you will certainly face reckless endangerment and other criminal charges.

If you’re still in school, that can mess up your academic career. You might need to do many community service hours, or you could even get some jail time.

If you start down this road, it’s hard to get away from it. Recidivism is a serious problem. Once you’re in jail the first time, the chances keep getting higher after each stint inside that you will end up back in there again.

Your Family Will Be Upset

It’s also likely that your parents or other family members will not like to hear what you’ve been doing. They doubtless know how dangerous street racing is, and they won’t want you doing it.

You might break your parents’ hearts acting so recklessly. They will be up late at night wondering where you are when you’re risking death just for a little prize money and to impress your friends or rivals. It’s not worth it to alienate them like that.

You Risk Gang Ire

As we mentioned before, gangs often sanction and sponsor these events. These are outlaws, infamous criminals who are often violent and unhinged.

If you beat one of their members in a race, they might not hesitate to shoot you to prove a point. If you’re not affiliated, they can attack you without having any retribution fears.

If you become gang-affiliated, then that’s no better. Once you join that culture, getting away is nearly impossible. The most likely outcomes are either a long-term jail sentence or someone shooting or stabbing you.

There is no logical reason to involve yourself with street racing. It’s an adrenaline rush, but there are many risks involved. You’re better off staying well away from this lifestyle when you’re in your teens and early twenties.