Middle East Drift: Drivers Seek Dangerous Thrills on Public Roads

August 22, 2012 from CNN

Car "drifting" on public roads has become a popular and deadly pastime in many Middle Eastern countries. Originating in Japan, participants record their exploits skidding across public roads in high-performance cars in countless online videos. But authorities are beginning to crackdown, with one driver sentenced to death by beheading in June after killing two people while performing a stunt in the Saudi capital Riyadh. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom reports.

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Drifting

Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner. A car is drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle, to such an extent ... Explore this topic

Joyride

To joyride is to drive around in a stolen vehicle with no particular goal; a ride taken solely for pleasure. In English law, joyriding is not considered to be theft, because the intention to "permanently deprive" the owner of the vehicle cannot be proven. Instead, a separate o... Explore this topic

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is the largest Arab state in Western Asia by land area and the second-largest in the Arab world. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq to the north, Kuwait to the northeast, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates ... Explore this topic

Motorsport

Motorsport or motorsports is the group of competitive events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition. MotoSport refers to motorcycle racing specifically and includes off-road racing such as motocross. Explore this topic

Sports car

A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for spirited performance and nimble handling. Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious but high maneuverability and minimum weight are requisite. Explore this topic

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 American illegal street racing action film directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan. The film, featuring an all-new cast, was shot in Tokyo, and parts of Los Angeles, the latter often covered with props and lights to cr... Explore this topic

Automobile

About 250 million vehicles are in the United States. Around the world, there were about 806 million cars and light trucks on the road in 2007; they burn over 260 billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel yearly. The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, mark... Explore this topic

Riyadh

Riyadh is one of the four biggest cities in Saudi Arabia, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large p... Explore this topic

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates or the UAE, is an Arab country in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing sea borders with Qatar and Iran. The UAE is... Explore this topic

Sport

A game which involves some form of physical prowess. Explore this topic

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