"The scourge of residential streets": The Legal (Mis)Construction of Street Racing as Anti-social Behaviour

Abstract

In recent years in Australia there has been an increase in societal concern about illegal street racing. In broad terms, illegal street racing is officially constructed as behaviour which is dangerous to participants and bystanders given its nature - racing cars at fast speeds either as a spontaneous act, or as part of an informally organised event. This unstructured aspect of street racing generates many fears within the community which fit within the classical understanding of a 'moral panic' (Cohen, 1972) where the perceived threat is rapidly escalated in the minds of 'respectable' citizens. While part of this panic is generated by the risk of injury or death associated with street racing (both for participants, spectators and innocent third parties who happen to be on the streets at the same time), the demonisation of the activity goes beyond this risk to attack the general culture of street racing as 'anti-social'. Much of this focuses on the playing of loud music in cars that are racing, the performance of certain stunts in cars which are either noisy or leave marks on road surfaces, the nuisance created by crowds that gather to watch street racing, and the general social background of those who participate in the activity. Street racing is also mainly an activity engaged in by young working-class males. For this reason the debates (and part of the panic) revolve around the immaturity and rebelliousness of the 'idle youth' (Law, 2001: p. 25) who participate in street racing. It is further identified as a masculine activity which also raises the fear of physical harm and intimidation. In effect, street racing is not simply about road safety: it transgresses boundaries and challenges mainstream social values which results in its demonisation (Cohen, 1972: p. 52).