A HARD-hitting lecture aimed at danger drivers and "wannabe gangsters and bad boys" told the packed Al-Hikam Institute, in Fairweather Green, that it was a "temporary buzz" which wasn't worth it.

With a coffin draped with words from the Koran making a chilling presence in the room, Imam Muhammed Asim Hussain last night made a passionate speech where he called for a community-wide and joint effort to stop the reckless driving that plagues the city and the life of crime he said many think is "cool".

Hundreds of men, women and children packed into the Al-Hikam after prayers with many forced to stand in the corridors and outside.

He lectured on respect which was lacking in some of the young people who were chasing a life of gambling, drug-dealing, alcohol and flashy cars and clothes.

The Imam was joined by West Yorkshire Police superintendent Dan Greenwood, Councillor Richard Dunbar - member of the police and crime panel and link member for road safety - and Aurangzeb, a bus driver of 20 years whose spare time is taken up by washing the bodies of the dead before their funeral.

Speaking for more than an hour, Imam Asim spoke of the 27 deaths on Bradford's roads this year.

He also told the listeners that parents should be questioning their children where the money they suddenly get has come from and how they can afford to have a fast, expensive car.

"Parents should say to them: "take that money away". They should ask their children why that come in late at night and ask them what they have been doing. Instead they take the money and thank them for putting food on the table.

"When the son puts money on the table for the parents, the father knows he is a drug dealer but says he is a business man. This is wrong.

"Having a fast car and being a "bad boy" you think is cool. It is not cool.

"What about the man who ends up in Armley? He thinks he is cool. He thinks he is a bad man, but he is a fool."

"When you get behind the wheel to drive that RS6 or RS3, that stolen fast car with 650 or 750 brake horsepower. When you get that urge to put your foot down, when you hit that road, then you have got it completely wrong. You are no Paul Walker or Jeremy Clarkson. You are a fool. You are no wannabe and you are no bad man. Instead you should be ashamed.

"You should be working hard to make Bradford a better place.

"Put your lives into perspective. Ask yourself, is it really worth it?

"Allah did not give you a life to go out and hit a tree, to go and blow someone's house up. Allah did not give you a life that on Friday night's you go out and you drink so much that you don't know what time you arrive at home in the early hours of the morning. He did not give you a life to dishonour and disrespect your mother and father. Allah did not give you the beauty of this life for you to go and destroy it.

"For a temporary buzz it's not worth it."

He also pointed a finger at those claiming benefits illegally who thought it was permissible and who were teaching their children wrongdoing.

Aurangzeb told the audience he was one of the few who were skilled to wash bodies ready for their funeral and 90 per cent of his spare time was doing this. He was the one who had washed three of the four victims of the Toller Lane crash on August 2.

He said he was not allowed to speak of what he saw, but he had seen terrible things and terrible injuries instead he chastised those who drove too fast and dangerously.

"What are you doing driving on roads like gangsters? What are you trying to prove?" he said.

"It is mayhem; it is madness and it needs to stop. Enough is enough. I plead with you all, don't you be the next victim," he added.

Superintendent Greenwood said the police were not against fast or flashy cars as long as they were driven sensibly.

He added that he had probably stopped some of the men in the room and given them speeding tickets or a driving ban or sent them to prison.

"I make no apology for that because when we launch an operation in the district and seize a vehicle because it is dangerous or stop someone from dangerous driving, we are trying to stop then from throwing their life away.

"We don't want to stop you from having that fancy car for Eid. Fill your boots if they are legal."

Councillor Dunbar said the deaths on roads in Bradford were "entirely avoidable" and said the Labour party was calling for improvements in three areas: more investment in modern technology; a need to educate young people about showing respect for other road users and more affordable public transport.

He added investment in youth servies was also vital because it was often a life-line for many young people.

He also asked that people should not automatically blame the parents for not controlling their children.

"Their first language may not be English and their children may have had a better education," he said, adding: "One thing I have learned about Islam is that it is a peaceful religion which teaches respect. That needs to be taken into account when you consider going for a driving licence or getting behind that wheel on the road."

He said he wanted to see the young people in the room take the district forward and didn't want to see any more headlines detailing fatal crashes.

Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Zafir Ali said he wanted to pay tribute to the four men killed in Toller Lane.

"I want to offer my condolences to the parents who have lost their sons in this tragic death. certainly their tragic death will leave scar which will stay for decades.

"If we all learned from their deaths to avoid this sort of driving then I believe their deaths will not be in vain.

"Hectic driving is not the answer and we don't want any more accidents.

"I am pleased to see so many youngsters coming here together not only to pay respect, but to move a pledge towards working together to avoid these awful accidents."

Imam Asim said he hoped to hold more lectures in the future, perhaps in other areas of the city to attract all communities so everyone could work together.

He is also setting up classes from September for 14, 15 and 16-year-olds where they would read parts of the Koran and develop themselves into better people with respect for others.

"We will be working with the police, fire service and ambulance service with this to help the young become better people," he said.