OSAKA - Osaka police have arrested or referred 38 men and women in their 20s to 40s over suspected dangerous group driving and other offenses on Hanna Road, a mountain route linking Daito in Osaka Prefecture with Nara, as illegal street racing continues to disturb residents despite years of enforcement.
The arrests followed a crackdown conducted for about one month from August last year. Police said the suspects are believed to have treated ordinary public roads in Osaka Prefecture like a racing circuit, driving in groups at dangerous speeds.
Footage released by Osaka Prefectural Police showed several cars speeding along a two-lane section of road without appearing to pay attention to the center line.
The activity is associated with so-called hashiriya, or street racers, who have long gathered on Hanna Road.
Hanna Road is a general road connecting Daito with Nara and was fully opened in 1959. It remains a major route carrying large volumes of traffic between Osaka and Nara.
The mountainous section near the prefectural border features steep gradients and a succession of sharp and hairpin curves. Marks and damage can be seen along some bends where vehicles appear to have struck roadside structures.
Parts of the road have two lanes in each direction, while some sections adjoining opposing traffic are divided by a central barrier, reducing the risk of head-on collisions. Such road conditions have helped make the route attractive to street racers.
Dangerous driving has been a problem on Hanna Road for decades. Earlier groups of motorcycle and car racers repeatedly gathered on the route and nearby areas, and later generations of racers also used the winding mountain road for high-speed driving.
Fatal accidents have occurred repeatedly over the years, while police crackdowns have often been followed by the racers' return.
Residents living near the road say the problem remains serious.
One resident said repeated calls have been made to police because of the noise. "It's so loud that I've called several times and asked the police to come and warn them," the resident said.
Another said the noise often continues until around 2 a.m. Residents said the apparent reduction in disturbance later at night may simply reflect people becoming accustomed to it.
The problem is particularly noticeable from Friday night through the weekend, residents said.
During a recent late-night visit to the area, motorcycles were seen arriving one after another near the entrance to Hanna Road, producing loud engine noise.
The speed limit on the road is 40 kilometers per hour, but some motorcycles appeared to be traveling substantially faster.
Shortly before 1 a.m., engine noise continued to echo through the area while an illuminated roadside sign warning drivers to watch their speed remained lit.
One racer interviewed near a convenience store claimed to drive at about 170 kilometers per hour. Asked about the 40-kilometer-per-hour speed limit, the person responded, "Is there a speed limit?"
The racer said the purpose of driving was partly to relieve stress. Asked about the impact of the noise on nearby residential areas, the person acknowledged that it caused problems but said, "I know the noise is a nuisance, but I still want to enjoy myself."
The person also described street racing on the road as a long-standing "tradition."
A criminal psychology specialist said even people who engage in illegal racing fear being caught by police, but the perceived consequences may not always be severe enough to deter them.
The specialist warned that the relatively accessible nature of the offense can make it easier for some drivers to take the risk, even though the consequences of a serious crash can far exceed what they imagined.
Police face difficulties catching racers because drivers often slow down as soon as they see a patrol car.
The continuing pursuit of speed, excitement and stress relief despite the possibility of punishment has made the problem difficult to eliminate.
Authorities have repeatedly carried out enforcement operations on Hanna Road, but dangerous late-night driving continues, leaving residents to contend with noise and the risk of serious accidents.
Source: KTV NEWS
