Police create video on dangers of street racing - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

A 13 Investigates report is prompting police to take new action against street racing that officers say is putting other drivers at risk.

The speeds and the sounds on Indy's south side have some neighbors concerned about safety.

"Oh it sounds like a race track. They're just gone," said Brian Mullenix.

"It's definitely dangerous," added Dwaine Balay.

Our cameras captured street racing along Madison Avenue and South East Street, where souped-up cars gather in the Shoppers World parking lot on warm summer nights. The potential danger caught the attention of Metro Police, who recently stepped up patrols.

"The kids know the police are out here," said IMPD's Kendale Adams. "That is against the law and it puts the driver and other drivers at risk and we certainly, as a department, are very concerned about that."

In fact, Metro Police say after seeing our 13 Investigates report, they decided to do even more to protect the public.

"Your story helped us in getting the word out," Adams said. "This was just a perfect example of a story that just pushed the ball a little forward for us to go ahead and do that."

Because of what our cameras captured, police are creating a YouTube video to show the dangers of street racing. It will feature police commanders talking about the legal consequences of street racing and doctors from Wishard Hospital explaining the medical dangers of a high-speed crash.

"Basically, what kind of long-term issue can a person suffer from, you know, driving at excessive speeds," Adams explained.

We asked the drivers who gather in the parking lot themselves if they think there's a problem, and if they agreed with the "dangerous" label. They say most people are there to talk cars, not race them.

"It's a mix of the good and the bad," said Chris Wolfe. "There's some truth to that and there's a lot of storytelling around that. Yeah, a lot of kids out doing that and some adults, but those are just kids who never grow up and don't understand cars and the danger."

"It's just like any other area where kids do kids' stuff," said Kyle Frye. "I don't come out here to street race. I come out here to talk to car guys and swap parts."

But Frye admits some go too far.

"Yes, our cars are fast. Yes, we like to show they're fast. But we're not gonna peel out when we know it's not safe. If we're peeling out and nobody's on the road? Yeah, it's illegal. We understand that but we will anyway," he said.

Police say for those going too fast on the roads, officers will now do even more to stop it. The YouTube video is being created right now and police say it should be up on their channel within a couple of weeks.