Police are stepping up action against illegal drag racers, with warnings that drivers could face charges of culpable homicide.
But drag racing enthusiasts have appealed to local authroities to help them create a legal racing strip.
KZN police spokesperson Thulani Zwane said that people fail to realise that drag racing not only puts other drivers’ lives at risk but is a criminal offence.
“We are warning drivers that those who are drag racing will be charged accordingly. They will be facing charges in terms of the Road Traffic Act such as reckless and negligent driving and possibly culpable homicide,” he said.
While Springfield and Umgeni Road in Durban are popular drag racing spots, the motorsport has also made its mark on the roads of Tongaat and Stanger.
Tongaat community policing forum chairperson Nazir Sadack said drag racing has always been a problem in Tongaat and the popular racing areas include the Watson Highway, the Tongaat Toll Road and the King Shaka airport stretch.
“Drag racing has been a problem for many years. The activity often involves young men who spend a lot of money modifying their cars. Not only does the racing cause a public disruption but it is extremely dangerous.”
The illegal sport came under the spotlight after a 33-year-old man was attacked by six men at a garage on Umgeni Road earlier this month for “interrupting” a drag race. Video footage of the incident shows the drag racers kicking and hitting the man as he cowered on the ground. The video went viral and sparked a national public outcry.
Drag racers have since come forward claiming that it was unfair to persecute all drag racers. Tongaat racer Kylen Naidoo said he and his friends race because of their love for fast cars.
“There are people from Stanger, Umhlanga and Tongaat who meet and race. The drivers often meet at Westbrook Beach or Gateway shopping mall. The races usually take place late at night when there is less traffic.
“Perhaps a solution would be to create a legal drag strip. Stanger has a lot of vacant land that could be used. All we would need is about 600 metres. This sport will not stop and not everyone beats people up. In fact, most drivers do not bother anyone.”
Concerned Stanger parent Rina Lutchman said that she is fed up with the disturbance that late night racing causes.
“The weekends are the worst and theses drivers race along the R74. They rev their cars loudly and we cannot sleep at night. My house overlooks the highway and I have seen first hand the accidents caused by this reckless sport.”
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