Rise in Street Racing Causes LADOT to Propose Changes in ‘Fast & Furious’ Neighborhood

Rise in Street Racing Causes LADOT to Propose Changes in ‘Fast & Furious’ Neighborhood

Mar 6, 2023

Illegal street racing and takeovers have plagued Los Angeles County in recent years, with accidents leading to injuries as well as fatalities reported. Laws such as California AB 3 have been enacted to increase the penalties on illegal street racing at a statewide level.

Table of Contents

• LADOT’s Proposed Design Changes in ‘Fast & Furious’ Neighborhood
• Los Angeles Street Racing Statistics
• How to File a Street Racing Accident Injury Claim for Compensation
• Is street racing illegal in California?
• What is California Assembly Bill 3 (AB 3)?

Now, engineers with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) are proposing new designs for intersections and busy roadways in an effort to combat reckless drivers, according to a report from local KTLA.

“For years, the Angelino Heights area has been plagued by dangerous street racing and takeovers, leaving residents frustrated over the troubling rise in illegal activity,” KTLA reported, noting that the neighborhood was prominently featured in the “Fast & Furious” films and remains a “hotspot for drivers to perform dangerous stunts.”

LADOT’s Proposed Design Changes in ‘Fast & Furious’ Neighborhood

Residents have reportedly been urging local officials as well as Universal Pictures for years to help combat the illegal street racing and takeover activity. They say, however, that their concerns have not been taken seriously.

“Street racing fans visit the area year-round, with some hoping to live out their dangerous street stunt fantasies,” KTLA said.

As a result, LADOT is now proposing a series of road design changes targeting the intersections most impacted by illegal street racing and sideshow takeovers.

According to KTLA, officials have indicated that some of the elements may include:

• Road barriers
• Roundabouts
• Narrowing sidewalks
• Anything to deter drivers from performing stunts

“Because of the social media, it really blew up,” resident Alan Lee told KTLA. “Everybody’s doing this for ‘likes.’ I’ve seen this neighborhood go through stages and within the last 20 years, it’s actually become worse because of the racing. They’ll do doughnuts here or in the intersection. It’s very dangerous.”

“There was a period where they were talking about having a bigger police presence here and solving this through infrastructure instead which just seems like a win-win for everybody,” resident Josh Weiss said to KTLA.

“Officials are hoping the new street designs will serve as a successful example for other L.A. neighborhoods on how to deter illegal and potentially deadly stunts,” KTLA reported.

Los Angeles Street Racing Statistics

A 2022 report from iNews noted that street racing has been immortalized in movies for decades. Since the pandemic, however, the illegal activity has “gained a new lease of life.”

“…when stay-at-home orders in LA left the infamous gridlocked freeways completely empty, [it was] an invitation too tempting to ignore for the city’s underground street racing circuit.

Some of the latest Los Angeles street racing statistics for 2023 include:

• The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirms that Since 2021, street racing has increased by 27%.
• In 2021, the Central Traffic Street Racing Unit, which handles one of the four bureaus of LA, responded to 464 street racing incidents (compared to 342 in 2020 and 189 in 2019).
• Traffic collisions related to street racing have tripled in 2021 (compared to 2020).
• The LAPD said at least three deaths can be attributed to street racing.
• The street racing unit arrested 833 perpetrators in 2021.
• 610 street racing arrests were made in 2019.
• Generally, suspects were aged 16-35, from all ethnicities, backgrounds, and genders.

Additionally, Sergeant Michael Downing of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told the L.A. Daily News that in 2022, calls increased by about 60% from 2020 to 2021.

In terms of the number of street racing calls the Sheriff’s Department responded to year-by-year:

• In 2020, 860 street racing-related calls for service were made.
• In 2021, 1,380 street-racing-related calls for service were made.
• In the first eight months of 2022, 838 street-racing-related calls for service were made.

How to File a Street Racing Accident Injury Claim for Compensation

Illegal street racing is a crime. As a result, if you were injured in this type of accident, the driver who engaged in the illegal activity can be held liable for damages, and you may be entitled to a significant cash settlement.

Injuries in street racing accidents can vary in severity and type:

• Whiplash
• Broken or fractured bones
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury
• Emotional harm
• Scarring or disfigurement
• Loss of limb
• Concussion (MTBI)

If you’ve been injured in an illegal street racing accident, get the justice and maximum financial compensation you deserve by calling Dordulian Law Group (DLG) at 866-GO-SEE-SAM. Founded by a former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian, DLG has helped injured car accident and street racing victims like you recover maximum damages awards which allow for complete recoveries – physical, emotional, and financial.

With a 98% winning record and more than $200,000,000.00 in settlements and verdicts secured for our clients, DLG is the absolute best choice you can make when searching for a Los Angeles car accident attorney.

Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.

Contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM for your free street racing or sideshow accident injury consultation.