Introduction
A Multi-Criteria Analysis of Locating Potential Racing Sites in Metro Vancouver

Street racing is a form of unsanctioned and illegal auto racing which takes place on public roads. Over the years, street racing has become a serious issue of road safety in Metro Vancouver; particularly with the death of a RCMP constable in 2002 from a high speed impact on the driver side. (ODMP, 2002) Street racing typically involves a younger crowd that conducts its activities in an underground fashion to avoid police attention and presents significant risks of serious personal injury. (Peak & Glensor, 2004) 		 
 

Street races usually lack proper safety equipment relative to sanctioned racing events, as well as legal repercussions arising from incidents, such as fatal head on accidents or harming pedestrians or structural damage. So why do people do it? According to Peak and Glensor’s guide for “The Problems of Street Racing”, there are various motivations for street racing:

  • Street racing is not sanctioned and thus leads to a less rigorously controlled environment than sanctioned racing, to the enjoyment of some participants.
  • Street racing is cited as an activity which is available to people who are otherwise under-age for entertainment at traditional venues such as bars.
  • A community generally springs up around the street racing "scene", providing social interaction among the participants and cliques therein.
  • The opportunity to show off one’s vehicle
  • The simple and uncomplicated excitement of racing without the entry fees, rules and politics, typical of the sport.
  • The excitement of racing when law enforcement is certain to give chase.
  • A lack of proper sanctioned racing venues in the locale.
  • Movies and video games portraying the ‘cool’ aspect of street racing (ie. The Fast and Furious, Need for Speed, Midnight Club)
  • Settling a bet or dispute between fellow car enthusiasts (ie. Both believe that they are the better man, which turns into an argument and leads to a race).
  • Street races are sometimes wagered on, either by the participants or observers. This is the origin of the term "racing for pink slips" (which means that the winner keeps the opponent's car), which inspired the 2005 Speed Channel series Pinks. This, in real life, seldom happens; most wagers involve cash (as in Pinks: All Out).


In North America, street racing usually results in drag races which involve two or more competitors who drive in a straight line for a specified distance (usually a 1/4 mile or 402 meters). The driver that covers the most distance between the two cars or reaches the end first is the winner. Fundamental skills in drag racing are the ability to launch with minimum wheel spin and shifting as fast as possible. (NHRA, 2003) Street racing can occur between any two cars as long as the drivers are willing. Since street racing can occur anywhere and at anytime, locating and identifying all of races would be rather impossible for the police. However, a more relevant approach to maintain the peace and road safety would be locating the most suitable places in which a street race will more likely take place. By using a multi-criteria evaluation (MCE), we can identify suitable places or potential racing ‘hot spots’.

This analysis takes into consideration a number of factors such as types of roads and locations of police stations. Also, the WEIGHT function is used in the analysis to give different weights (scales of importance relative to each factor) For example, a wide road and lengthy road with a slope gradient of 7% would be much preferred over a narrow and short road on a flat plane. This analysis will be focussing on the municipalities of Richmond, Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster these cities have a dense population which causes a need for more attention to road safety.