[4] While there have been instances involving high-end vehicles such as Ferraris and Nissan GT-Rs, these are relatively less common compared to joyriders stealing sedans or compact cars for the purpose of drifting, abandoning them after an event.
Sociologists and criminologists in the region cite what is locally known as "tufush", roughly translating to idleness or desperation, indicating "the lack of recreational activities that might interest them", hence why many young Saudis turn to the extreme underground sport despite both safety risks and law enforcement reprisals.
[8] In March 2014, a 23-year-old Saudi nicknamed "King Al Nazeem" was sentenced to ten years in prison and 1,000 lashes for a series of car drifting and firearms offenses in Riyadh and Al-Qassim Province.
[9] To combat this, academies and leagues have since been established by professional racers in the region, in an effort to mitigate illegal street drifting incidents and to educate youths against the dangers of such activities, encouraging them instead to participate in officially sanctioned events.
Speed limit cameras and GPS tracking systems began to roll out nationwide to ease apprehending the street drifters and enforcing stricter sanctions on reckless driving, among several measures taken by Saudi Arabia.