Tareq Al-Naser Al-Riyadh newspaper The decision by a court in Unaizah to sentence a stunt-driver to beheading because he was responsible for the deaths of three young people calls for reflection. The news generated hundreds of comments and the majority of them supported the verdict. The massive support for the verdict is a clear proof for the extent of the problem and it shows society is fed up with joyriders creating chaos on our streets. When I say we need to reflect on this decision, I mean we need to learn lessons from the entire episode. Stunt-driving — or drifting as it is described locally — has been a major menace not only for the road users but also for the law enforcers for many years. People constantly complain about the problem, but we as a society did not succeed in dealing with it in an acceptable way by channeling the energy of our young people to positive activities away from the recklessness on roads. We have to be honest to admit that deterrent punishments imposed on drifters did not work. Usually drifters avoid using own cars to hide their identity. They are excellent drivers, which makes arresting them a difficult, if not impossible, task. These are young people looking for fame and excitement. Drifting gives them both. Since we could not put an end to the problem with all our efforts, I think it is high time we organized drifting as a recognized sport. Why can't we build special clubs for drifting where the participants can freely compete against each other? After all, what is the difference between car racing and drifting? Drifting, as a sport, is no more dangerous than sports like motorcycle rallies and high-speed boat races? In developed countries, we see all types of sports recognized. There are committees for ice-skating and international competitions are held periodically. Companies dealing in skating products sponsor teams participating in such competitions. Why can't we establish a committee to deal with drifting as a recognized sport and organize competitions at specialized venues instead of pushing the zealots to practice it in hiding? Organizing it as a sporting event will force the drivers to follow safety procedures and protect fans from danger. It is only through a dedicated drifting committee we can put an end to its practice in streets endangering people's lives and property. I am sure drifting as a sport will attract many fans from around the world, as it is much more exciting than motorcycle rallies and boat races.
