Overview

• The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office launched 448 illegal street racing investigations in the first half of 2025, slightly below last year’s pace.
• Of the 2025 probes, 87 ended in charges or fines, 147 remain open, and 127 were dropped due to lack of evidence or other factors.
• A 65-year-old pedestrian died last week in Oberschöneweide after being struck at high speed by a 33-year-old driver.
• Since a 2017 law amendment broadening penalties, prosecutors have pursued over 5,600 street racing cases, including a record 923 in 2024.
• Most suspects are men aged 18 to 30—especially 21 to 25-year-olds—many of whom evade police or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.