There’s a disturbing social media trend building up speed on public highways over the past couple of years. Some refer to it as cutting up, other call it swimming. Basically it’s driving on the highway at speed, constantly changing lanes and slicing through traffic for kicks. Shadowy figures record their exploits endangering the public, then post videos to YouTube and social media platforms for social media attention.
This is different than old-fashioned street racing on an isolated industrial road out at the edge of town after midnight. These street hooligans specifically look for crowded urban streets and highways, and use other drivers as pylons. The most infamous member of the ‘Swim Team’ in NYC was 19-year-old Antonio Ginestri AKA ‘@Squeeze.Benz’ who racked up millions of YouTube views and a massive following for drifting his BMW through Times Square, and speeding through Newark, NJ’s entertainment district in his Lamborghini while taunting police.
Late-model cars continued to receive increased power and are capable of incredible speed and acceleration. Even a four-door Hyundai Elantra family sedan has 275 HP, so it’s important that law enforcement have the vehicles capable or pursuing modern cars. It’s just shameful that YouTubers and social media ‘clout chasers’ can mock police with impunity, literally doing donuts around Chevy Tahoe and Dodge Durango police cruisers. That’s why New York State Police are buying V8 powered Ford Mustang GTs as pursuit vehicles.
High-speed pursuits have dramatically risen in New York in the last decade, and chases involving New York State Troopers doubled between 2018 and 2024, unsurprisingly resulting in more crashes and deaths as a result. And that’s just where the Ford Mustang GT comes in; its meant to deter, not invite pursuits. A number of police departments across the country purchase Ford Mustangs as pursuit vehicles because they have a quicker 0-60 time and a higher top speed than other patrol cars.
North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana State Police also utilize V8 powered Mustangs, unwilling to let criminals get away. In New York, the problem is YouTubers like ‘Squeeze.Benz’ who make a living running from the cops, will inspire others to try the same stunts. But when the cops drive 485 HP Ford Mustangs powered by 5.0L V-8 Coyote engines backed by a Torsen LSD and Brembo brakes makes running from the cops in a BMW M3 a questionable decision.
This wouldn’t be a problem if video games had never glamorized this behavior. Kids playing those games have gooten old enough to drive and think it is a game. Sad.
I may not wat to agree with you, but I do. Video games, social media and even my beloved F&F movies, promote street racing behaviour. Some of us grew up and understood these were just games & movies but not instruction manuals.
It’s the some nots they are the problem or is it being spoiled.
I can’t imagine being reckless enough to ever do that ‘cutting up’ on the highway. Its so anti-social. Endangering everyone.
I can understand promoting racing and speed and cool cars… but people need enough common sense not to practically kill someone kn the highway.
Deterrence is a good thing.
Wow witnessed two accidents yesterday and just blogged about it! This is dangerous. Can they divert their adrenaline rush to something else?
Well, I have always promoted the philosophy ‘Take It To The Track’
There are places in the world where you get a trophy not a ticket for driving fast.
New Mexico police departments have been using souped-up Dodge Challengers, Chevy Camaros, and Mustangs for several years now. I don’t know if there are any Squeezer types out here. They would probably get caught and likely be shot in the Albuquerque area.
Even our local village police got a couple of Mustangs so they can easily catch the people driving 35 mph in the 30 mph zones. The highest posted speed in the village is 35 mph.
That sounds like a movie Id watch.
‘Caught & Shot’
An Albuquerque Tale
I’ll suggest it to my neighbor the next time I see him. He works for Netflix. Netflix’s studios are in Albuquerque.
In the early 2000s, I lived for a couple of years in Kennesaw, a small town in Georgia, USA. The county Police had a white SN95 Mustang GT, always driven by an older officer. Never saw it in action during a hot pursuit, LOL.
You never saw the Mustang in action because nobody was dumb enough to run from those Gerogia cops.