'Anti-drift devices' on popular mountain pass in Japan destroyed

Kanagawa Prefecture has revealed that newly installed anti-drifting devices have been damaged.

The road safety devices were designed to deter illegal drifting activities on a prefectural road in the Hadano City area.

Damage was caused to the anti-drift measures recently installed on a stretch of the Prefectural Route 70 road, near the Yabitsu Pass, which is notorious for drivers who enjoy drifting and racing along the mountain road.

The damaged road safety devices consisted of reflective road studs, similar to raised pavement markers used North America or the Cat’s Eyes road markers found in the UK and Ireland, which were installed at regular intervals along the center line of the roadway.

The road studs, often not commonly found in rural areas of Japan, are comparable to those used internationally to mark the center of roads

While appearing relatively thin, these studs have a thickness of approximately 3cm (just over an inch) and are designed to create a noticeable vibration and impact if a vehicle drives over the center line, which is intended to discourage drifting.

The Kanagawa Prefectural Government began the installation of these anti-drifting road studs on Monday, March 24th, 2025, and completed the project the following day, Tuesday, March 25th.

However, the effectiveness of this new safety measure was short-lived.

A photo was taken to show the completed work at this corner once the road studs had been installed

By 8:00 AM on Wednesday, March 26th, less than 24 hours after installation was completed, authorities discovered that a significant portion of the newly installed studs had already been deliberately damaged.

One-third of the road studs that were installed had been forcibly broken or removed, with the damaged studs having been dislodged from their bases.

Five of the broken units were found abandoned at the site and Kanagawa Prefecture have stated that cost of the damage is in the region of 130,000 yen (approx. $884 USD / £683 GBP), which likely includes both material and labor costs.

In a picture of the same corner shown above, 24 hours later the road studs appear to have been forcibly removed

The Kanagawa Prefectural Government issued an unusually forceful public statement expressing strong condemnation over the rapid destruction of the newly installed safety devices.

The prefecture announced its immediate intention to file a formal damage report and lodge a criminal complaint with the Hadano Police Station.

The prefecture also stated that it would be bolstering its surveillance efforts in the area, increasing road patrols and potentially deploying security cameras to monitor the affected stretch of Prefectural Route 70.

The statement also included a commitment to restore the damaged safety devices.

The Yabitsu Pass is widely recognized within the local community and by law enforcement as a “holy ground for driving” among drift gangs and other individuals engaging in dangerous and illegal driving activities.

The pass is such a popular location that it even featured in the popular drift racing anime and manga series Initial D.

A map of the Yabitsu Pass as shown in the Initial D anime

The Initial D series brought Japanese drifting culture to international attention and still sees merchandise targeted at international fans to this day.

The winding mountain road through the Yabitsu Pass has become a problematic site, due to it continually attracting reckless drivers, causing significant concern and frustration for local authorities and residents.

In an effort to address this ongoing issue, awareness-raising campaigns aimed at curbing drifting activities have been repeatedly held at Yabitsu Pass in the past.

These campaigns typically involve local police, community groups and car enthusiasts who advocate for safe and responsible driving.

Over one-third of the road studs were ripped out shortly after they were installed

The swift and deliberate damage to the newly installed anti-drifting measures reflects the strong feelings of those who engage in drifting on Japan’s mountain roads, with many engaging in what they would consider safely controlled events that use systems such as spotters at corners to ensure the wellbeing of participants and other road users.

With the anti-drifting measures set to be re-installed, this looks set to become an ongoing battle between the authorities and drift enthusiasts.

Source: Kuruma News