On April 3, 2020, AZDPS troopers observed two drivers attempting to race at speeds near 90 MPH on I-17 southbound near Indian School Road. Both drivers were stopped and taken into custody, and the vehicles were towed.
Unfortunately, racing incidents like this one are an ongoing issue on Valley streets and freeways. Now, with the help of a $30,000 funding increase from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), Arizona state troopers can boost street racing enforcement on highways in the metro Phoenix area.
The new funding is an add-on to the $244,280 grant awarded to AZDPS in December 2019 for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program & Materials (STEP). This increase will provide the Highway Patrol Division with more personnel for special enforcement details targeting street racing.
Street racing on highways is dangerous for everyone on the road, including both racers and the motoring public. The high speeds often associated with racing increase the risk of serious injury or death in a collision. As you may recall, on February 18, 2020, an 18-year-old Buckeye man was killed on State Route 51 as a result of a suspected street racing incident. The two cars were racing when one car reportedly flipped over and collided with a median wall near the Shea Boulevard overpass. While the case remains under investigation, the hope is that with this additional enforcement, we can minimize the chance of these tragedies occurring.
