Supercars

Two young men are now sadly the latest casualties in a horrendous car crash that occurred early Sunday morning at the intersection of Temple Drive and Katipunan Avenue around the White Plains Subdivision area. It is a three-way intersection fed by long roads from EDSA, Katipunan Avenue and Temple Drive.

This stretch or road from EDSA to the said intersection has always been a favorite of street racers and those who just want to drive fast, no matter what kind of car they are driving. I know this for a fact as I have a relative who was once very much into street racing in the 80s. He has since matured into a responsible driver. Which brings me to this unfortunate accident in Quezon City.

Noticeable is the car that figured in this fatal accident – a Subaru Impreza hatchback – one of the hottest cars around today. Imprezas are known for their astonishing speed. And the particular model involved in the accident, an Impreza STI, is even a more powerful version than the regular Imprezas. According to the “experts/enthusiasts” that I spoke to, it is one of the three Japanese “supercars” namely the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the Subaru Impreza. Each with at least 280 horses on steroids under their hoods. The Nissan Skyline has also figured in a very high profile accident where a celebrity was driving and one of the passengers was killed. Mitsubishi Evolutions or “Evos” have also figured in fatal car crashes.

From these data alone, what do they tell you about these cars? Yes, they are fast. Yes, they are beautiful. Yes, they are highly sought after and the stuff of what most men dream of. And yes, they are also deadly. In the hands of a regular driver, they are ticking bombs.

We focus on the accident. Based on the photos that I saw, the car was definitely traveling at breakneck speed when it hit the post. So extensive was the damage done on the car, the post almost split the car into two halves. It is not hard to understand why both driver and passenger didn’t have a chance. In fact, some friends of mine say that the car was definitely traveling at a speed no less than 150-160 kilometers per hour! With a car like the Subaru Impreza STI, that speed could be achieved in seconds. Seconds!

So many questions now arise as to why they were traveling that fast. Was the driver racing with another car? Was the driver under the influence of alcohol? Was the driver just driving too fast and underestimated both the performance of the car and the intersection? Indications point out that he was indeed fast, and he just plowed into the post, probably underestimating the car and the intersection. Two young lives instantly lost.

According to data from the PNP and the MMDA, illegal street racing has diminished in Metro Manila compared to the heydays of the 70s and 80s since legal races are already held throughout the year. But there is still that need for speed, especially for the testosterone-laden young. This is absolutely not to say that those who perished had it coming. I can only imagine the suffering their parents are now going through. But nobody, no matter how skilled one thinks he is in driving, should be traveling at that speed on a public road. It’s just plain reckless, and dangerous.

These “supercars” are like loaded guns. In the hands of the uninitiated, untrained or simply reckless and irresponsible, they become dangerous. We raise a howl over speeding buses on EDSA, we should also do the same for “supercars” going wild. If only to keep our children safe. To keep everyone safe.