Street drifting by some youths in The Gambia has been a growing menace over recent years, eventually becoming a trend that has critically established itself among other menaces the Gambian urban society faces.
While discussions, debates and arguments on politics continue to foreshadow many concerning social issues, dangerous street drifting or road stunts by young people has once again dominated national spotlight as it turns deadly, registering a casualty recently during one of such sessions.
Gambians have expressed concerns, with young people not shying away from these clarion calls but rather taking the forefront in the struggle for tangible action.
Yusupha, a youngster known to some as YJ, acknowledges the “very critical risk” involved in these road stunts spearheaded by fellow youths.
He says: “A car is not something that you can master; you only get used to it. It could throw you off and a lot more could happen. It is just risky, and that’s what I believe.”
“However,” he adds, “my second opinion is that they could be accorded their own spot to drift and have nice leisure, but it is not nice to be doing it in the open, since many things can happen.”
Yusupha is one who believes in striking a balance whenever necessary. He believes that endangering other people could be addressed without totally denying young people leisure and fun.
Another youth Abdoulie Barry expresses that road drifting, road stunts or whatever it is called is incorrect. “It is not safe,” he says. “You could even lose your life, or in the next minute strike someone and even kill the person. All that can happen. You would realise that matters having to do with cars are not reliable. A car is a machine, which could betray or disappoint you any moment.”
He further admitted the stubbornness of the youth to desist from the act.
“Many of them are stubborn. That is not life. That is not what bravery is. As a human being, before doing certain things, you should weigh the potential benefits or risks first. If you see benefits, you can do it, and if there are no benefits, you desist from it. I think that’s better,” he advises.
Muhammed Colley, a student of Latrikunda Upper Basic School along Kairaba Avenue, aligns with the street drifting pessimists. “It is not safe. Sometimes these street drifters block the way and disturb the movement of cars and people.”
However, like Yusupha (YJ), Colley highlights regulation and not total elimination. “They could allocate a space where they could do their stunts how they want. Sometimes, while they are also doing their stunts, these boys would be standing or drifting beside the cars and are often injured. They should be careful.
“When they are drifting, sometimes the police would chase them, and the boys would be throwing objects at the police as they flee. They should be careful, because they could even hit people who are not involved. That is not good.”
Sainey Saine, a colleague of Muhammed Colley of Latrikunda Upper Basic School, similarly underscores that “they should have their own special place where they could carry out their stunts, so they could keep away from distracting other cars along the traffic and putting others’ lives in danger, as they sometimes hit cars passing by.”
Saine suggests there could be robust legal framework to curb the rising menace of drifting and address safety concerns by regulating the practice.
