Dubai Police have taken action against a tourist caught on camera performing dangerous "drifting" manoeuvres in a rented BMW on Sheikh Zayed Road for a social media stunt.

Footage shared by the force on Friday showed the motorist veering between lanes at high speed on a sharp bend while being filmed by a person standing near to the motorway. Police said the reckless behaviour – which was widely shared online – had put his life and those of other road users at risk.

Drifting is when a driver deliberately oversteers, causing a loss of traction, while completing an entire turn or corner. The practice is banned on public roads due to the danger of the driver losing control of the vehicle and threatening the safety of pedestrians and fellow motorists.

The driver – whose age and nationality were not disclosed – was fined Dh2,000 and given 23 traffic points on his licence, and has been referred to prosecutors for further legal action. The vehicle was impounded for 60 days.

Brig Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, said officers worked with the Cyber Investigation Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation to identify the driver and confiscate the vehicle.

He said the driver “appeared to be boasting about his driving skills while exposing his own life and the lives of others to direct danger”. Investigations confirmed he had entered the country as a tourist and that the car belonged to a rental company.

Brig Suwaidan warned that stunt driving, including drifting on bends, can cause serious collisions that may result in severe injuries or fatalities, as well as damage to property.

He urged all motorists to avoid reckless and irresponsible driving, adding that police take a zero-tolerance approach to those flouting traffic rules in such a manner. He called on the public to report dangerous driving practices through the Police Eye service on the Dubai Police app or by calling 901.