DESPITE the countless deaths and efforts by authorities to crack down on the dangerous phenomenon known as car drifting, more and more young men are getting caught performing risky stunts. Al-Riyadh newspaper reports on the Kingdom's deadly drifting culture. Taking advantage of the fact that there are no strict measures and laws that deter dangerous driving behavior, drifters take to the Kingdom's streets and engage in activities that put their lives and the lives of other road users at risk. The Shoura Council recently discussed a report submitted by its security committee, which recommended new legislation to put an end to this perilous practice, which continues to claim innocent lives and forces many to live with physical handicaps for the rest of their lives. The committee emphasized how car drifting disrupts the Kingdom's security and encourages young men to steal and abuse drugs. Deterrent penalties The members of the council upheld a decision to make amendments to the Traffic Law to deter car drifters and protect the safety of young men who watch these stunts or happen to be walking near sites where car drifters are performing stunts. The report stressed that the penalties and monetary fines for the crime of car drifting should be harsh. Some members called for allocating certain areas for car drifters so their activities can be regulated and monitored by the authorities. The committee made amendments to Article 2 of the Traffic Law and classified car skiing, a stunt in which a car is driven while balanced on two wheels, as a form of car drifting that is punishable by law. Violators can face between six months and five years in prison and a fine ranging from SR10,000 to SR40,000. A person who aids or abets a car drifter in any way will be regarded as an accomplice and face half the penalty car drifters face. A fine of SR1,500 will be imposed on spectators who stand on the road watching the stunts and their cars impounded for 15 days. Dr. Ali Al-Afnan, associate professor of psychology at King Saud University, said social media websites have helped promote this dangerous practice among young men in Saudi society. “Most car drifters and spectators are aged between 15 and 25 years, an age when people seek adventure and dare risks. Poor supervision on the part of families and weak legislation has undoubtedly played a role in spreading car drifting. The only solution to this problem is to pass draconian measures,” he said, calling upon the Ministry of Health and the Traffic Department to publish statistics on the number of young men who have been killed or injured so far because of this negative practice. Joint responsibility Dr. Abdullah Al-Matrood, student counselor, said most young men who engage in car drifting are reckless, irresponsible and show little regard for other people's lives. “Such people have many negative qualities that can be traced back to the environment they grew up in. The only way to deal with this issue is to launch an extensive media campaign with the help of mosques and schools. The campaign should focus on the dangers of car drifting,” he said. Al-Matrood said the senior scholars should issue a fatwa in this regard. “As a rich country, we are targeted by our enemies who promote violent movies and high-risk car chases that propel young men to do the same,” he added. Abdulaziz Al-Yousif, director of education in Riyadh, said every member of society has a responsibility to confront car drifting. “Spring break is the time when many young men engage in this negative practice. We should all join forces and help authorities clamp down on violators. In other countries, there are very strict penalties for anyone who doesn't care about people's lives,” he said.
