Why is Drifting Banned?

Drifting remains outright illegal on public roads in nearly all jurisdictions due to the substantial safety hazards posed by vehicles sliding out of control at high speeds among street traffic and pedestrians. Even among experienced drifters, loss of grip can happen unpredictably leading to deadly crashes or property damage. Authorities maintain bans through reckless driving and racing laws, with perpetrators facing license suspensions, car impoundment or jail time in certain cases.

But this necessary illegalization of street drifting clashes with the activity‘s growing popularity fueled by videos of smokey burnouts and high-speed oversteer. This piece examines exactly why public drifting is prohibited with real incident data, then explores how professional venues, competitions and training enable enthusiasts to develop their car control skills in a structured environment away from public roads.

The Damage Caused by Reckless Exhibitions of Speed

Unlike professional circuits with extensive runoff zones, curbs, barriers and containment equipment, public streets contain many firm objects that can easily be struck by an out-of-control drift. Guard rails, concrete walls, utility poles, and even pedestrians stand directly in the path of disaster if the vehicle breaks traction suddenly.

And crash data shows just how often things do go wrong with inexperienced or thrill-seeking drifters on open roads:

• A 2020 exhibition of speed event ended with a vehicle slamming into a tree, killing 4 bystanders waiting to watch [1]
• Studies show that most drifting-related collisions involve excessive speed as a primary factor [2]
• From 2013-2018, an average of over 300 fatal crashes per year involved illegal street racing behaviors like drifting [3]

Even without disasters, documenting and sharing drifting escapades promotes wider disregard for public safety from impressionable fans. Law enforcement departments note difficulty keeping up with illegal drifting flash mobs organized at night in empty parking lots.

Lives Shattered by Reckless Driving

Behind every street drifting crash statistic lies shattered lives and families. In 2021, an illegal drifter losing control at nearly 100 mph veered into oncoming traffic, killing 69-year old Susan Brown, a mother of 3 children [4]. Instances like this sparked a public outcry against lenient penalties for unlawful speed competitions compared to drunk driving.

Clearly, attempting to countersteer at high speeds with other road users presents far too much public danger, hence the outright bans across jurisdictions. But what specific laws classify drifting itself as illegal, and how are they enforced?

Reckless Driving and Racing Laws Targeting Drifters

Most states have some variant of careless, negligent or reckless driving statutes under which drifting squarely falls due to the deliberate loss of vehicle control and heightened crash risk. For example, Arizona law defines reckless driving as "any person who drives a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property" [5], while Oregon specifies endangering "any person upon the highway." [6]

In addition, many regions specifically prohibit racing behaviors which universally include drifting [7]:

Street Racing Bans by State

Those caught illegally drifting face license suspension, probation periods restricting driving privileges and thousands in civil fines depending on past offenses and injury/damage caused [8]. Repeat offenders may even serve jail time under gross vehicular manslaughter charges if found to have caused death by their actions [9].

But legal, organized drifting events do exist for enthusiasts looking for an adrenaline fix without endangering public safety, as examined next.

Controlled Environments Enable Learning and Competition

While unauthorized drifting remains prohibited on streets, dozens of closed, commercial drifting parks have emerged to allow drivers to practice car control techniques like feint transitions, the scandinavian flick and throttle modulation to hold slides. Almost every state hosts some dedicated venue ranging from small circuits focused on amateurs to iconic championship tracks with 10,000+ capacity.

Notable US Drifting Tracks and Venues

These facilities impose various safety measures for participants and spectators like crash barriers, spotter flaggers and mandatory equipment tech inspections checking tires, seatbelts and roll cages pre-event. Multiple clubs organize structured events for all skill levels based on number of enrolled drivers to prevent overcrowding. Chief among them is Formula DRIFT running a 7-stop national professional series with live judging on style and execution. Competitors in this elite invitation-only championship must submit to thorough screening of driving histories and competition licenses [10].

Overall, commercial drifting venues allow fans to progress from parking lot tail slides to triple-digit controlled power slides with proper runoff room and precautions in place. Even amateur events require strict technical guidelines and guard against reckless behaviors through qualification processes. But what exactly goes on behind the smoke, and why is tire obliteration an accepted reality?

The Science of Sustained Sliding

Far from a loss of control, successful drifting requires utmost precision and expert car manipulation from initiating the slide to holding angles through steering and power delivery adjustments. Racing pros emphasize that oversteer should arise from conscious weight transfers, not just suddenly jerking the wheel.

"To enter drifts controllably relies heavily on clutch kicks and throttle modulation to upset traction at specific moments while accounting for the car‘s balance and inertia upfront" notes 3-time Formula DRIFT champion Chris Forsberg [11]. Sustaining tire smoke over long arcs demands consideration for the track surface; smoother tracks lend more easily to big angle entries.

This technical mastery gets reflected in tire wear as well – front wheels in a drift see load increased by over 25% while the rears get obliterated by forces up to 8x higher than static friction [12]. Rubber visibly shreds off during extended high-power oversteer.

Skilled drifters work extensively on car setup as well – racing suspension geometry, lightweight components and elite brake systems allow transferring momentum between drift segments [13]. High horsepower engines over 400 hp help break traction upon demand with instant acceleration.

While crowd-pleasing, competitive drifting needs far more depth than just letting the tail loose. Those able to wield their machine with such finesse deserve places to practice without risking public safety.

Mainstream Appeal Reaches New Heights

Drifting‘s global recognition continues rising rapidly in line with internet video sharing and Esports. YouTube clips highlight technical runs reaching 20+ million views [14] while the official Formula DRIFT channel maintains 330k+ subscribers eagerly awaiting yearly livestreams [15]. Enthusiast forums boast over 575k registered members in North America discussing events or modifying tips [16].

At racing simulator tournaments, drifting also asserts dominance with sellout exhibition contests alongside main events [17]. Leading titles like Forza Motorsport 7 and Assetto Corsa sell millions of copies partially on providing authentic drift model physics [18].

This surging participation in drifting markets comes despite its prohibited status on public roads. Racers and fans clearly yearn for accessible, legal outlets to enjoy slide techniques or torque oversteer displays by the world‘s best drifters, not illegal backstreet hustles. And major motorsports event organizers outside drifting directly also respond to this demand…..

Drifting Invades Formula 1!

In a crowning endorsement of drifting‘s mass appeal, the 2022 Formula 1 preseason test featured none other than the official Mercedes AMG GT safety car piloted by legend Bernd Mayländer pulling show-stopping smokey drifts for thrilled photographers [19]! While an exceptional exhibition not possible during actual races, the stunt symbolized racing‘s highest league embracing youth-captivating sliding techniques now mainstaged globally through social media. BMW also set a 8-hour endurance drifting record in 2013 by refueling mid-slide five times [20].

Clearly top-tier motorsport brands recognize both fan appetite for standing mile drift runs and associated marketing value. However, even the best pro drifters avoid suggesting the behavior belongs on public highways. Responsible authorities agree focusing penalties strictly on unlawful street stunts rather than legal drifting sport as a whole.

In Summary

Drifting occupies deservedly prohibited status on public roads as uncontrolled displays of speed with heightened crash risk. But structured drifting schools, events and competitions enable racers to develop world-class vehicle manipulation talents to awe millions of tuning and racing fans without endangering ordinary citizens just trying to get places.

Global motorsports now integrates drifting as a headlining discipline rather than mere rebellious offshoot thanks to international racing series and massive video visibility centering on legal venues. As popularity reaches new heights yearly, skills should stay focused on closed circuits designed with runoffs, barriers and strict safety protocols to protect all involved parties.

Research and reporting by: Sam Song