It is easy to deplore the behavior of young men who play dangerously with powerful cars. It is also a simple matter to say that when someone dies as a result of these stunts, as happened this week in Qassim, the youths involved have only themselves and their idiocy to blame. But such black and white judgments are unhelpful. They impede a closer look at what is actually happening here.
There can be no disputing that drifting and other games that youths get up to with automobiles carry extreme risks of injury. But that after all, is a major point of throwing cars and motorbikes around in this way. The danger is exciting for all participants, whether they are drivers, passengers or simply onlookers.
Standing in a loose circle around someone slinging and spinning a ton of automobile around in a cloud of screeching, burning rubber is a high-risk spectator sport. One mistake by the driver and a fully-revved vehicle will shoot like a bullet into the crowd. Lives have been lost this way. Serious, life-altering injuries have been caused.
Doing a high-speed hand-brake turn or bouncing a motor car up on to just two side wheels and driving along fast are crazy maneuvers, especially when there are four occupants. Bikers who do long-distance wheelie stunts are no less guilty of risking life and limb. These are displays that need practice. And that practice may come at a high price in death and injuries, to say nothing of damaged cars and bikes.
Yet there is a further point to these displays by young people. Not everyone can afford the time or the money, or indeed actually has the talent to acquire what are, in truth, very real skills. Those who learn how to do these tricks earn widespread respect among their peers. Loyal followers will travel considerable distances to watch their heroes perform at carefully-selected locations. These secret venues are given out on social media in code or at the last possible minute.
Those who find such antics outrageous choose to overlook the fact that the cream of drivers in Formula 1 and Indy Car motor racing, to say nothing of international rally sport, have nearly all started out with just this sort of adventurous and hazardous behavior.
And there is another point which those angered by the performance of these youngsters should not overlook. Very often these seemingly random events are very carefully organized, not just in terms of location, but who will be taking part in the drifting. Relaxed though the supervision may appear, there is generally a deal of planning behind a gathering. If public roads rather than other hard-surfaced venues are being used, there will also be lookouts to warn of the approach of the authorities.
Therefore, in terms of skill, daring and organization, there are a whole bunch of talents behind these gatherings, talents which at any other time and in any other walk of life would earn admiration from the same people who today condemn them. In short, drifting and other stunts aren’t all bad.
However, it is right that the police are seeking to crack down on them. The overriding concern is not simply the safety of the young men but also of other motorists. And not every young driver is responsible. Youthful daring is generally underpinned by a poor appreciation of risk. Death or injury seem unthinkable. The safety and well-being of other motorists probably does not enter most of these young heads. Therefore on balance these antics on public roads foster many anti-social ills and should be curbed.
Yet is there not perhaps a compromise which can keep the best of the spirit of adventure and risk? Why are not moves being made to turn the drifting shows into officially-organized displays and competitions? Properly-protected spectators could still enjoy the thrills and spills. Sponsors could fund the events and prize money. Practice areas would be available whenever drivers wanted to improve their skills or put on impromptu demonstrations.
Not every young drifting addict would be interested in this solution. After all part of the fun is annoying their elders. But if well-run, it could be expected that the special competition areas would draw the majority of the followers of this “sport”, for that is what it really is.
The only risk might be if too many adult drivers chose to turn up to these new, specialist venues, to discover for themselves the pleasures of drifting. That would never do. Indeed it would be an almost certain trigger to drive the young men back to their unofficial sites!
A highly dangerous sport
