How Dangerous Is Drag Racing?
There is a risk involved with professional, organized drag racing that takes place on a track, but given how many people have participated in these events over the years and how rare serious injury or death is, it can be considered a reasonably safe, though risky, activity. Drag racing is overseen by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), a professional organization which has implemented many safety standards for professional drag racers. The NHRA is particularly quick to respond with the implementation of new safety regulations after a fatal accident.
While organized drag racing poses risks, it is important to differentiate the legal sport from its illegal and much more dangerous counterpart, street racing. People occasionally refer to street racing as drag racing, but there is a big difference between the two activities. Organized drag racing is a professional event hosted by governing bodies that work to ensure the safety and legality of the sport. Street racing is thought to cause many deaths each year in the United States, a statistic that is not matched within the world of drag racing, where death and even serious injury are relatively rare.
