Video: Stunt driving craze tackled by police

A taskforce has been deployed to catch and prosecute stunt drivers in the United Arab Emirates, as their antics are putting lives at risk.

A video posted on the internet shows Emirati males skidding around corners on two wheels whilst driving at high speeds.

The young men, colloquially known as ‘shababs’ and dressed in traditional Emirati white robes, are seen jumping onto the back of moving 4x4s and dangerously balancing on the edges of open windows and sunroofs.

The taskforce was formed to crack down on the dangerous practise after the trend of uploading stunt videos became popular online.

Over 600 videos found on YouTube are filmed on phones and posted by privileged youth in the Gulf states. One video has nearly a million views.

Major General Mohammed Al Zaffin, head of Dubai’s traffic police, is reported to have said on Monday that police arrested Emirati drivers involved in dangerous driving on Mamzar beach and the Al Rawiyya roundabout.

The stunt drivers would stand trial after having their vehicles impounded, he said.