Dong Zhen/Shanghai Daily news
Traffic police are worried about the growing number of car and motorcycle
drivers involved in drag races on local streets and elevated roads.
Police
are now asking the public to provide tips about drag racing - either the names
of those involved, or the times and locations of drag races - to help them crack
down on the problem.
The Shanghai Public Security Bureau is also warning
drivers that they face severe punishments if they are caught drag racing,
including criminal charges if they cause a serious accident.
Police say they
have received a growing number of complaints from local residents about
motorcycles racing on empty streets overnight.
"I hope authorities can do
something to stop this dangerous game," said Chen Yujie, who said she often sees
motorbikes racing at night near her home at the intersection of Haifang Road and
Shaanxi Road N.
"When speeds reach 80 kilometers an hour, which is common for
racing motorcycles, it could be very dangerous," said officer Sun
Guofu.
Police encourage witnesses to take pictures or videos of the illegal
races, which can be used to track down the motorcycle riders.
While
motorcycle races are commonly seen on city streets, many car owners are racing
their vehicles on elevated roads late at night.
Some local drivers said the
newly opened section of the under-construction Middle Ring Road, on Wenshui Road
E., is a great place for racing or just hitting the accelerator.
"Few drivers
have come to know about the new overhead, so the number of cars using it is
small. When you drive on the open lanes, you can't help accelerating and before
you know it, you are zipping along at more than 100 kilometers an hour," said a
female car owner surnamed Yang.
"The city's elevated roads are mostly narrow
and particularly dangerous for car racing," said a traffic police with the
elevated road team.
A refitted Sail was speeding along the Middle Ring Road
near Yixian Road early Monday morning when it accidentally crashed into the
guard rail.
Police said the car was probably going more than 150 kilometers
an hour at time of the collision.
Rescuers had to cut the driver and his
female passenger out of the twisted wreckage of the car. They were rushed to
hospital, where both were treated for several broken bones.