The Fast and Furious in Fairfield County
NEIRAD enilno edition
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Driving through town around 10 p.m. you occasionally see the casual speeder, those doing 10-15 miles per hour over the speed limit, but usually not the street racers doing 100+ on city roads. Either way though, you will usually see someone committing an act that could easily cause an accident, and is putting themselves or others at risk.
One Saturday night though, I decided on my way home to stop by Dunkin’ Donuts on Connecticut Ave in Norwalk to pick up some hot chocolate. Arriving, I went inside, got my drink, came out and sat in my car listening to music for a few minutes. As I turn on the radio not even 30 seconds later I hear an obnoxious exhaust coming from a probably stock Honda Civic, other than the ricer muffler and disgusting body kit. (A “ricer” is one who is driving a car with one of those huge wings off the trunk, and usually the fake plastic Wal-Mart chrome hubcaps with the fake “turbo” signs on the back and side of the cars). Not even two minutes later I hear the blow off valve off of a turbo Subaru Legacy and approaching slowly behind, the silence of a Porsche 911 Turbo. Why does it seem that it’s the “slow” or cheap cars that are the ones speeding?
I believe the answer is that those who usually purchase high-end cars like a Porsche are generally the intelligent types who know the repercussions of speeding. It seems that this demographic of buyers can tell when they’re taking it too far: they realize what is safe, and what isn’t.
If all of this is happening on a main road in Norwalk, what happens in the “underground.” Well I personally know a few of those “street racers” or whoever you want to classify as speedsters. No, not the set up on a straight road with more than 100 cars with four- inch non-resonated (to make the exhaust quieter) mufflers who race down the road for money. Rather the drivers who go on the highway and see how fast they can get their cars, or go to a parking lot and try to drift. (the act of losing traction on either the rear wheels, or all four wheels thus propelling the car sideways)
I asked some of these “reckless drivers” about why they took the risks for these illicit races. One junior explained, “I like driving fast, not usually to get somewhere fast, but for the thrill.” This person I personally know, and he isn’t the type to drive fast all the time. This was a one or two time occurrence.
These people that I know that are driving fast, aren’t always doing it in a dangerous manner. They drive the speed limit and obey all traffic laws 99% of the time. The times that they go out and speed are usually late at night or when there aren’t any other vehicles around. I don’t think that it is necessarily the speeders that put the rest of us “good” drivers at risk. I believe it’s the unaware and unable.
I’ve heard five or so stories in the last six months from people who just got their licenses and how their DMV inspectors have commented, “I shouldn’t have passed you because you still need some practice.” These people that don’t know how to drive yet, should still be practicing instead of putting the rest of us at risk because of their ROAD rules’ ignorance.
It’s become evident that driving laws need a change. Driving hours need to focus more on “real life driving.” That meaning driving five or so miles per hour above the speed limit, driving in traffic, and driving in non-ideal driving conditions; example snow, rain, fog, etc.
The fact is that the government needs to do more about educating drivers for motoring in different conditions, instead of spoiling them with things that they will never encounter. Also, they need to realize that it’s not the speeders that are usually causing accidents, it’s the inexperienced and “bad” drivers.
