Green light given to street-racers in Moscow

Published 19 February, 2007, 02:50

Moscow police have come up with a new tactic to control illegal street racing in the Russian capital. There are now special areas where drivers can speed up within the law.

402 meters of clear road, no traffic lights and no police officers to fear: Moscow authorities have allocated this street for the drivers who want to compete.

15,000 people have gathered to watch the first race. It has become so popular, the authorities are planning to turn the competition into a regular spectator event.

But local residents have not welcomed the decision to host legal street races saying they make too much noise.

Meanwhile professional racing drivers say their amateur colleagues are more than welcome to compete with them at specially-designed tracks, and exchange experience.

The aim is not to win a prize, but to encourage street racers to stick to legal racing venues.

But some of them will not be prevailed upon.
 
“Streetracing is beyond legislation, otherwise there's no point,” says Artyom Sobolev, a driver. “People who take part in illegal racing drive their own cars, not special race cars.”

However, the sooner they learn to abide by rules, the sooner street racing gets a chance to become an official sport.

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