Chennai leads in fatal accidents, yet thrill seekers revv up on roads

A few weeks ago, a popular actor allegedly rammed his luxury car into a police van, after returning from a party. On July 2, Aishwarya Wilton was arrested for causing the death of a 54-year-old man, while driving under the influence of alcohol. 

While these are clear cases of drunken driving, the city has another underbelly. Certain stretches in the city are popular among those who like to play with their super machines. “Almost every day, we meet at Besant Nagar beach, which is an unofficial meeting spot for us bike racers,” says a 21-year-old bike enthusiast. “We start from Besant Nagar and head towards Kotturpuram, which is our favourite spot.” 

It’s a close-knit network and it runs smoothly on all cylinders, like a well made car. “We know where the cops usually patrol. In case someone is caught, he informs the others and the rest of us take to other routes and abort the race,” says another drag racer, who claimed he was let-off by a cop after paying a bribe of Rs 200. Another biker says there are dedicated spots on ECR for superbikes and cars that are ideal for speeding. 

“Mudaliarkuppam is one of the favourite spots for superbikers. The Outer Ring Road is another hotspot where people take their luxury cars for a fast spin,” says Akshay, a superbike owner. When contacted, AK Singh, Addl COP, Traffic, said,“We regularly check for drunken driving and take strict action against those guilty. We will also increase surveillance.”