Riyadh police impounded cars this week for “tafhit”, or drifting, a technique used by young drivers to manipulate a car into controlled skidding at high speeds.
Police conducted a campaign against drifting by arresting 20 drivers and 93 onlookers in areas throughout the city, said local Arabic daily Al-Riyadh.
“Several police patrols were involved in the campaign to ensure the full application of the law,” said Riyadh Traffic Chief Abdul Aziz Abu Humaid.
He said drivers were arrested and spectators detained until their parents were summoned and pledges were signed,” he said.
The police found that some cars used in drifting shows had been reported as stolen.
Young Saudis engage in such extreme sports by organizing high speed drifting events in open areas where hundreds of people converge to watch the latest prowess by drivers as they careen down roads or swerve back and forth.
Awareness campaigns have been launched in an attempt to curb the activity. Several bystanders have been killed when drivers lost control of their speeding vehicles. The activity has not abated.
The subculture has reached new levels following the posting of a video clip showing three young Saudis, leaning out of a speeding car to “skate” along the tarmac on a busy road.
A popular music video called “Bad Girls” by singer M.I.A. depicts many scenes of drifting, mimicking Saudi driving to Arab-style music. The music video has further popularized drifting and speeding.
Police crack down on ‘drifters’
