Authorities are calling for stricter measures to curb the dangerous phenomenon of drifting, rampant among bored and disillusioned youth.

Tragedy recently struck in Abha, when a young driver involved in a drifting stunt — a driving technique where drivers intentionally over-steer, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires — lost control of the vehicle, causing a scene of carnage and mass casualty.

The incident took place on 100th Street, renowned for being a rendezvous for youth who risk their lives for the rush.

The drifter had been roaming the streets of Abha and Khamis Mushayt for two years.

Although security authorities were well aware of what went on in the infamous area and the suspect’s name, weak law enforcement helped the drifter continue to run loose among teens, ultimately leading to the tragedy, according to eyewitnesses who caught the incident on video.

Another video clip, which shows an unidentified group of drifters trying to obstruct an ambulance on its way to the hospital, recently went viral on the social media.

The drifters had mostly been teenagers leaning out the windows to stop the ambulance from moving.

Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khalid has ordered an investigation into the dangerous phenomenon and has formed a special committee to look into its prevalence on the street.

The reality on the ground, however, remains a daily challenge to tackle.

Abha’s community members have even come up with a common colloquial term to refer to the 30 to 70-strong motorcycle and car pools that raid the city’s streets.

Carpools, which line up along Abha’s ring road or along walkways, use similar-colored cars and models to distinguish themselves from other motorists. Other vehicle lovers also come from other cities to take part in the huge “Farat Al-Thulatha” congregation, according to authorities.

“This young group of drifters, dubbed ‘Al-Darbawiyah,’ waste their energy on a futile quest to reinforce their machismo, abandoning values and ethics to take reckless risks in the name of adventure,” said Mohammed Al-Jaryan, a family consultant and specialist.

“Although the community does not identify with them in any way, they still find acceptance among youth, who find this the only outlet to express their emotions and expend their teen energy. This is thanks to a scarcity of entertainment and cultural activities.”

“Such daredevil stunts make youth feel special since they are able to attract attention through being ‘different’,” said Al-Jaryan.

“These youth have even done their best to attract other youth to the group, an anarchist movement with criminal tendencies that does nothing but destruct private property, threaten lives and propagate the use of drugs, crime and homosexuality,” he said.

These teens usually make themselves stand out from others by lengthening their hair, wearing dirty clothes, smoking, drinking and taking drugs, not to mention carrying around knives and walking around with a macho demeanor.

“In short, they hope to shock and awe with their rebellion and their false sense of courage,” he said.

Al-Jaryan blames the phenomenon on the disintegration of the family unit, lack of education and peer pressure within local neighborhoods and at schools.

“Drifters even have their own social media accounts to lure youth into taking up the dangerous hobby,” he said.

“Youth most at risk to falling victim to such extreme sports are those who did not do well at school and who want to camouflage their failures or simply those whose lives are plagued with boredom and emptiness.”

Al-Jaryan reiterated the importance of raising awareness to combat drifting stunts.

“We cannot unravel the psyche of each and every member, but we can increase awareness campaigns among youth and parents, who should be made responsible for instilling a sense of security and moderation in their kids.”

“I even suggest moderate forms of punishment if they fail to response to guidance,” he said. “This includes grounding them or confiscating electronic games and other gadgets.” “In short, the way to deter youth from going astray is to create a balanced environment that combines fun, discipline, guidance and direction.”

“The labor market should make use of this energy and foster it in training youth and employing them. Mosques and schools also have a role to play in deterring them from risking their lives.”

“In addition, a system of accountability must be enforced. Drifters must be arrested and fined to stop them from doing it again.”