Socio-Psihological and Criminological Caracteristics of Drag Drivers

Abstract

This article describes and classifies drag racers, participants in drag racing activities, taking into account their essential socio-psychological characteristics and their behaviour during drag races on city streets of Sarajevo. Races usually take place over the weekend, late in the night. Criminal characteristics of such a risky and deviant behaviour, that endangers other innocent drivers and bystanders, ar^analysed and pointed out.

Drag racing can be translated to Croatian as "naviačeće utrkivanje". One drag racer challenges the other to an automobile race that starts from a standstill at one traffic light and ends at the next traffic light. It is not uncommon to reach extreme vehicle speeds, in excess of 200 km/hour (130 mph) during the races.

A foundation of the article is based on the research results obtained by semistandardised set of interviews with forty drag racer participants and by observation of their behaviour during the races. A by-variant analysis of two distinct groups was performed. Group A consisted of passionate drag racers, primarily focused on achieving extreme vehicle speeds. On the other hand, people primarily in love with their cars, with moderate attitude towards racing, but fascinated with the automobiles as potent technology machines, were members of a Group B.

A contingency analysis was performed on all observed characteristics and statistically significant differences were found in behaviour and attitudes as well as in lifestyles of these two participant groups.

It was shown, through a detailed discussion, that a police intervention to prevent this kind of behaviour, is not only desired but in fact absolutely necessary. Also, a parasuicidal tendency and so called chronic suicidal state of mind across a significant portion of a Group A participants were clearly pointed out in a case study.