JEDDAH: Drifting has taken a heavy toll of young men who spent their time and energy in the pursuit of this dangerous game for lack of family awareness and guidance.

Observers said that the last decade witnessed a dramatic increase in traffic accidents in the Kingdom, with casualties reaching 4,200 fatalities, 1,200 permanent disabilities, and 8,000 temporary disabilities. Many were caused by drifting which is categorized as entertainment, even though it is a death game.

Local media interviewed officials about the drifting phenomenon and its dangerous results. They all agreed that drifters are suicidal and killers because they don’t respect traffic rules.

Aziz Al-Qarni, a teacher, said drifting is an ailment that should be eliminated from the streets to limit the number of victims and reduce harm to people and property. He said the exam period is fertile environment for drifters around the school, where traffic patrols are scarce. Despite efforts to fight this phenomenon, which includes harsh prison sentences and confiscation of vehicles, young men continue to practice it.

Yahya Asiri pointed out that a young man who practices drifting is a killer, adding that he witnessed the death of a young man who couldn’t control the car, hit a light pole and died after his body was split in two.

Adel Al-Shahri said practicing drifting is a way to reach fame by using the Internet to advertise the time and place of drifting competitions. He described this fame as trivial because those who do it become either a victim or a killer, in addition to causing damage to property and violating the law.

Khalid Al-Mayouf, an educational and psychological expert, describes drifters as having a psychological ailment and says that they should be sentenced to awareness and guidance campaigns to convince them to use their potential and free time in a better way. He added that setting up photo exhibitions in various parts of the Kingdom about the victims of drifting, either killed or disabled, and organizing trips to these exhibitions will show young people the harmful effects of drifting.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, grand mufti and president of the Council of Senior Scholars, and chairman of the Permanent Committee for Scientific Research and Iftaa, called on young men to give up the bad practice of drifting because of the great harm it inflects on society. He described drifting as a dangerous and shameful issue and young men should reject this bad idea because it exposes them and other people to danger, in addition to damaging property and spreading havoc and fear among people.

Director of Jeddah Traffic Maj. Gen. Waslallah Al-Harbi said drifting is banned because it exposes individuals and property to danger, especially during the exam period. The number of undercover traffic patrols was recently increased in a number of public places and streets to capture traffic violations.

He commended the efforts and cooperation of the Jeddah educational directorate, represented by it general director Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, who facilitated the distribution of brochures to educate pupils, during the launch of final exams, which included the importance of abandoning wrongful practices such as drifting.