The Fast & Furious Saga has had a major impact on modern automotive culture. But does it inspire others to race dangerously
on the streets? Residents of one Los Angeles neighborhood think so, and they're worried that the latest entry in the film series will turn Angelino Heights into a hotspot for would-be street racers.
'Fast & Furious' films bring fans, imitators
Per MotorTrend
, Angelino Heights residents are upset about Universal Studios' plans to film portions of the tenth Fast & Furious film in their community—so much that they were willing to show up and protest if shooting wasn't canceled. Two recognizable landmarks from the first film in the series—Bob's Market and Dominic Toretto
's house—are located in this neighborhood, and they attract fans and enthusiasts from all over the world. While that might sound good for potential tourist income, many of these Fast fans are doing a little more than taking pics for their timelines. In some cases, they've taken to these locations to try their own hand at street racing.
Dangerous street racing
Angelino Heights residents claim that street racers and overzealous fans have driven to the landmarks on purpose for years to engage in street racing, burnouts, and in some instances, perform complete street takeovers. It's not just annoying, but dangerous, the residents assert.
A group of concerned residents calling themselves "Streets Are For Everyone" pledged to protest while Universal films scenes in the neighborhood.
The group says Universal Studios is responsible for glorifying illegal street racing, street takeovers, and other chaotic sideshows that are killing people around the city, citing an LAPD figure indicating that street racing has climbed by 21% over the past year.
Do the 'Fast & Furious' films really influence bad behavior?
Several law enforcement organizations in Southern California, including the LAPD, have cracked down on street takeovers, leading to 30 vehicles impounded and 40 arrested.
But so far, there are no official stats to indicate that the movies themselves. Universal Studios does pay "annoyance fines" to residents when filming in their neighborhood, but that's not enough for the "Streets Are For Everyone" group.
In an Instagram post, the group stated that it's time for the City of Los Angeles to prioritize the long-term health and safety of the people before the short-term profits of a film studio.
Will the studio cancel location filming for the new flick? Probably not. But in the event that street racing and other shenanigans become more common after the film's release, the group will probably take to Instagram again with a hefty "told you so."
MORE: We Bet You Don't Know These Juicy Details of the OG Fast & Furious
Don't street race if you expect to be covered in an accident
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. It's also commonly excluded from most auto insurance policies. If you're not going to street race, however, you could still stand to save more on your insurance. The best way to get the best rate on your car insurance is to shop around, and Jerry can help you out with that.
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