Police won't put brakes on street racing

Photo / Martin Woodhall

Police are looking at supporting legal street races as one of a number of options to deal with boy racers.

Association president Greg O'Connor said police weren't opposed to suggestions of holding legal street races in an effort to stem problems from young drivers.

"If it works, it's worth a try. Never say never."

Municipal leaders in the Polish city of Lodz have effectively dealt with the problem of illegal street racing by organising legal races.

The city of 780,000 is now the "street racing capital of Poland", Police Association magazine Police News reported.

Lodz police found illegal racing reduced by 80 to 90 per cent following the launch of a monthly race night.

Car owners race on a 400m stretch of road, which is closed to downtown traffic. Local government paid $20,000 for timing equipment and organised emergency services to provide fire trucks and ambulances free of charge.

However, Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said he struggled to visualise legal street racing in New Zealand, because it would be too difficult to find neighbours willing to have racing in their streets. He also said councils would have to address the degradation of the road surface.

Mr Parker said he welcomed lateral thinking on Christchurch's boy racer problem, but said it was important to prioritise proven legislation already before the Government.

"I would hate to see the exploration of lateral ideas - whatever promise they hold - slow down the very important process of dealing with legislation our neighbours like Australia actually use."

Mr O'Connor said that many of the problem drivers weren't overly interested in racing, but in driving around built-up areas where they could be heard by others.

"It's not the racing, it's the behaviour. Most of the issues come from plain bad manners."

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA