LOS ANGELES — The Auto Club of Southern California on Thursday was teaming with USC Racing, law enforcement agencies and community partners to discourage illegal street racing and street takeovers in a public safety campaign.
Instead, campaign organizers urged enthusiasts interested in motorsports to participate at legal racing facilities, including Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond
The campaign, “Off the Streets. On the Track.,’’ coincides with AAA’s annual 100 Days of Safe Driving campaign, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, a period that historically sees a spike in fatal crashes involving teen drivers.
“Too many families are impacted every summer by crashes that are entirely preventable,’’ Kandace Redd, spokeswoman for the Auto Club of Southern California, said in a statement. “The 100 Days of Safe Driving campaign reminds us that every decision behind the wheel matters.’’
The multi-partner campaign comes as local communities experience illegal street racing and street takeovers that, in some cases, have turned deadly.
Officials cited recent incidents including a fatal shooting at a street takeover in Carson, a takeover in East Los Angeles where a child and others were injured in a shooting, a Gardena takeover that blocked residents from accessing their homes and a downtown Los Angeles takeover that resulted in vandalism.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, its Street Racing Task Force has responded to 257 street takeovers this year through July 18, resulting in 251 arrests, 867 traffic stops, 789 citations and the impoundment of 293 vehicles.
“Illegal street racing is reckless, dangerous and completely preventable,’’ LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno said. “Enforcement plays a critical role, but prevention is just as important.’’
USC Racing is the university’s Formula SAE team, a student-run organization that designs and builds race cars for sanctioned collegiate competitions. Campaign organizers said the team hopes to demonstrate that competitive driving can be pursued safely in controlled environments.
“Being part of USC Racing has taught me that safety is the foundation of everything we do,’’ USC Racing student Joey Cha said. “Racing in a controlled environment allows us to push our limits without putting ourselves or others at risk.’’
Other facilities recommended by campaign organizers for legal racing facilities, rather than public streets, were Apple Valley Speedway, Barona Speedway, Famoso Dragstrip and Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.