Street takeovers, also referred to as “sideshows” or “street exhibitions,” are gatherings where a group of people block off a street or intersection to do donuts, race, or otherwise drive recklessly. In some cases, the cars participating in street takeovers may be stolen or dangerously modified to make them unsafe for road operation. Takeovers can pose significant threats to the safety of a community, ranging from car crashes to pedestrian collisions.
In this article, we discuss some of the common risks associated with street takeovers, as well as safer alternatives for those that want to show off their car. To avoid preventable car crashes, we strongly recommend against participating in these activities.
What Are Street Takeovers?
In essence, a street takeover occurs when a bunch of drivers block a section of roadway so they can perform stunts such as donuts, drifting, or drag races. In many cases, these shows are organized via social media, which can draw a crowd of hundreds to watch the chaos unfold. Takeovers became increasingly popular during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, largely due to social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. In some cases, organizers may even use drones to capture footage of the takeover and stream it for profit on the Internet.
Takeovers generally occur late at night, usually between the hours of midnight and 3:00 a.m., and may last for hours. They can be incredibly disruptive to the local community, as loud engine revs, screeching tires, and even fireworks are completely normal during a street takeover. Many states have passed laws enforcing stricter penalties for participating in a takeover to help dissuade such behavior, but law enforcement agencies still struggle to contain these events. Since many takeovers are spontaneous and draw huge crowds, it takes a significant number of police officers to safely shut down an event without being drawn into the crowd and isolated.
Dangers Associated With Street Takeovers
Although it may sound like street takeovers are more of a nuisance than an active danger to the community, they can actually cause serious problems. To begin with, many of the participating vehicles are illegally modified to increase their performance, making them unsafe for operation on normal streets. As a result, car crashes are not uncommon at street takeovers. There have been cases of people being flung out of vehicles in motion, bystanders being hit and seriously injured, and multi-car crashes.
Many of the cars participating in street takeovers have been stolen, making their owners more likely to engage in reckless stunts that could hurt themselves or other people. There have even been instances of takeover participants fleeing from law enforcement or striking police vehicles. The state of Missouri passed Valentine’s Law after a fleeing sideshow participant struck a police car, killing an officer.
Even if there are no injuries or property damage reported at a sideshow, the threat of being arrested or having your vehicle impounded is very real. Recently in Louisville, law enforcement made a public show of crushing a Dodge Durango Hellcat seized in an illegal street takeover. For many people, the loss of their seized vehicle would be a crushing financial blow, even if the car is eventually released from the impound lot.
Safe Alternatives to Street Takeovers
There are several safe alternatives to street takeovers that don’t risk your health or your vehicle. If you want to put your car through its paces in a controlled environment, you might consider:
- Local racetracks: Many tracks have dedicated time slots for members of the public to race their vehicles. You can put your car to the test, without worrying about other unskilled drivers potentially wrecking your vehicle.
- Drag strips: A drag strip allows you to race another vehicle head-to-head in a safe environment clear of other vehicles or obstacles.
- Autocross events: In autocross, drivers compete to complete a roadcourse with the fastest time. Temporary courses are frequently set up in parking lots with traffic cones, allowing drivers to truly master their vehicle’s handling.
Protect Yourself & your Vehicle While Behind the Wheel
While it can be tempting to show off your vehicle at a street takeover, the consequences of doing so can be severe. You are much better off exploring safer alternatives to street racing, such as autocross or your local racetrack. We hope this article helped to effectively highlight some of the risks of takeovers!