DRAG-RACE DANGER TO GET MORE PUBLICITY.Byline: James Nash Staff Writer Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. police and city officials have fought illegal drag racing drag racing Form of motor racing in which two contestants race side by side from a standing start over a straight quarter-mile strip of pavement. Winners go on to compete against others in their class until only one is left undefeated. by crushing cars, fining spectators and adding speed bumps along routes frequented by racers. Now they're trying another strategy: educating high school and college students about the dangers of illegal races. On Tuesday, Los Angeles police commissioners approved a new partnership between the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . and high schools
and colleges to explain the dangers of drag racing to students in person
and via the Internet, public-service announcements and in brochures at
custom-car businesses.
The stepped-up campaign against street racing targets the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , where eight people died in races during the first 10 months of the year. Some East Valley streets, such as Glenoaks Boulevard, have been popular among drag racers since the 1960s. ``We feel this program will go far toward eradicating the illegal street racing in this area,'' said Capt. Chris Pitcher of the North Hollywood division. ``(Racers) come from all over the place. It's an activity that's bolstered by the (Internet). It has a vast draw from all over the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, region.'' Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. , who has been fighting drag racing in her East Valley district, said police have eliminated most of the larger and organized races that plagued many streets at night. But many thrill seekers, particularly teenagers, continue to engage in spontaneous races, Greuel said. ``We need to do a better job of educating those young people that street racing kills,'' Greuel said. ``If you bring in a car (to school) that has been smashed in a street race and you tell (students) that a kid died in a street race, it makes it real.'' Pitcher said police will reach out to all 32 public and private high schools in the Valley, as well as to California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an , and three colleges. Some aspects of the educational program already are under way, while the full program will be rolled out in time for graduation, in May and June, Pitcher said. James Nash, (213) 978-0390 james.nash(at)dailynews.com |
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