City traffic police all set to tighten noose around underage drivers

PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 31
As the last date for ‘immunity’ from challans against underage driving comes to an end on Wednesday, the traffic police is all set to tighten the noose around the offenders from tomorrow onwards.
While the traffic education cell continued with an awareness programme till last day (today), the presence of traffic cops has also increased on different intersections of the city. Today, they held meetings at a private school on Queens Road and government high schools in Fatahpur and Vallah localities, respectively.
“We received a good response from parents who appreciated the Punjab Government’s decision to implement the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act in letter and spirit and curb underage driving. They assured that they would cooperate with the police in controlling underage driving and would stop their wards from driving vehicles on roads,” said Sub-Inspector Daljit Singh, in-charge, traffic education wing (of the city police).
He said those in the 16-18 age group can drive a 50cc vehicle and that too after having obtained a valid learning licence. In case of e-vehicles, they could opt for low speed e-bikes, but only after having a learning licence.
Rajneesh Sharma, a local resident, said stringent measures would definitely help the police in controlling underage driving. It would help reduce the number of road mishaps.
Sudhir Sharma, a lawyer at the district courts, said it is the need of the hour to take such strong measures to control potentially unsafe underage driving. Advising remedial measures, he said teenagers and their parents can opt for latest vehicles like electric cycles, which do not require any licence.
“In order to go to their educational institute or the market, teenagers can go for alternate vehicles like e-bikes. By doing so, they can contribute towards saving the environment by reducing carbon emissions,” he said.
Vijay Kumar, a government employee posted at the Health Department, said underage driving is one of the major reasons behind road mishaps on city roads.
As per the new amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act, the guardian of the minor or owner of the vehicle would be held responsible for breaking the rules related to underage driving and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Under the law, a minor who commits offence would not be eligible for a driving licence till the age of 25 while the registration of a motor vehicle used by the minor will be cancelled for 12 months.

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