Open house: Should law-enforcing agencies deal strictly with traffic rules violation or turn a blind eye?

Create awareness for responsible driving

In Punjab, road accidents have resulted in more deaths than injuries in comparison to neighbouring Haryana. The main reason for these accidents is reported to be the over-speeding of vehicles. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data for the year 2022, there were 6,122 road accidents in Punjab, leading to 4,688 deaths and 3,372 injuries. Similarly, in 2021, there were 6,097 road accidents, resulting in 4,516 deaths and 3,034 injuries. Over-speeding, reckless driving and suspected drunk driving remained significant causes of death, injury and property damage each year. Hence, it becomes essential for enforcement agencies to strictly implement the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 without any bias or prejudice against violators to ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians and all others in between. To achieve a smooth and safe flow of traffic, various regulations need to be put in place with attendant penalties to deter violations. Additionally, public awareness campaigns can help promote responsible driving and reduce traffic violations. Consistent enforcement of laws and improving infrastructure, including safe roads with clear signposts and good lighting, are also essential to minimise the chances of accidents. Furthermore, providing training to improve the ability of drivers to negotiate varied road situations, and imparting important skills and knowledge, can contribute to road safety.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Question for next week

The safety of doctors has become a significant concern. What measures should be implemented to ensure their protection at work?

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Underage driving needs to be deterred

Turning a blind eye will further worsen the prevailing traffic rules violations. The law enforcement agencies need to be very strict and vigilant to deal with violators. This is because major accidents on roads occur due to rash driving and overtaking from the wrong side. And if such types of violators are not punished severely, then traffic chaos and the number of accidents will increase. It is high time amendment in traffic rules in Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 is implemented fully in letter and spirit. School-going students normally are over excited while driving and often drive rashly. In this manner, they not only risk their lives but also that of others, who otherwise are driving safely. So, underage driving needs to be discouraged and violators of traffic rules should be dealt with strictly.

Sanjay Chawla

Patrolling, safe transport needed

Other than the bad condition of roads, investigations reveal that the primary cause of grievous accidents are the drunken drivers and youth recklessly driving two- or four-wheelers. More and more minors, especially the students, are now using high-speed motor vehicles in place of bicycles to reach schools and tutorials. Aimed at curbing the prevailing trend, Punjab government has invoked the provisions of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, whereby driving by the under-aged youth is banned with the onus for stringent punishment lying on parents or owners of the vehicle. These guidelines were to be implemented from August 1, but the crusade was put on hold for the present by the authorities. Meanwhile, some NGOs and the traffic police have launched a sensitisation drive at various schools. However, despite this initiative at the school level to abide by traffic regulations, driving by the under-aged remains a common sight outside the schools. As such, the apprehension is that this move may also meet with the same fate as the much-publicised ban on single-use plastics did, when it went haywire. Needless to say that for this campaign to succeed in right earnest, all schools must arrange transport for their pupils at genuine costs. However, as the number of road rage incidents and fatal accidents continue to surge in the state, traffic rules and road discipline has to be enforced at any cost. Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF), specially created by the state government for the purpose of maintaining driving sense and quick assistance on roads, must undertake intensive patrolling to prevent untoward happenings due to rash driving. In order to curb the piquant problem of underage driving, rather than turning a blind eye, law enforcing agencies should be given a free hand to deal sternly with the violators of traffic rules for safety and security of human lives.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Rashness on roads is not required

It is mandatory to stop underage driving. Underage driving is seen in schools, colleges and tuition centres. They jump traffic lights and use mobile phones while driving. They use earphones while on the road and travel recklessly. That is the main reason for the accidents. They endanger the lives of others. To stop the accidents, the Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 was enforced. On the request of the parents, relaxation was given to the students of underage drivers till August 20. After August 20, the Act must be implemented so that the accidents can be stopped. If the various provisions of the Act are implemented, the rising number of road accidents can be checked. If an underage driver is caught; heavy fine should be imposed on him/her and the parents or owner of the vehicle should be jailed for three years. That person's licence will not be made till 25 years of age. It should be taken seriously because it is a matter of underage lives.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Lack of political will hindering efforts

The decision of traffic police with regard to keeping in abeyance the implementation of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, which was expected to come into effect from August 1, is most unfortunate. The Act provided stringent measures to check and prevent underage driving which is a major cause for postponing its implementation. Of late, the menace of under-age driving has turned out to be a major traffic black spot due to which human lives are facing real threat to their survival and safety. Not only was the menace of underage driving going to be addressed by the new legal provisions, there were many other serious issues relating to traffic management as a whole which were to be settled through the amended provisions of the Act. However, the decision to postpone the implementation shows lack of political will on behalf of the state administration. The law and order situation in the state is already questionable and taking such decisions will definitely send a wrong signal to law enforcement agencies. The state is already suffering due to constant indecisiveness in almost all the major parameters affecting law and order situation in general and taking such decisions will definitely demoralise the implementation machinery and will embolden those who are always prepared to make a mockery of law and justice enforcing machinery in the state.

Jagdish Chander

Special focus should be on parents

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 specifies that individuals below the age of 18 are prohibited from driving. According to this legislation, parents of underage drivers may be fined up to Rs 25,000 and could be imprisoned for up to three years. It was expected that law enforcement agencies would rigorously enforce penalties on individuals who persist in disregarding traffic regulations. But just before the enforcement of this Act, it was postponed to August 20, 2024 which seems unjust as the topic is so sensitive that immediate steps are required to be taken. This is because underage driving not only puts the driver at risk but also the common man's life in danger. Youngsters under the age of 18 are immature to drive a four-wheeler adeptly. The authorities ought to act immediately and impose this law as soon as possible and in addition take some more steps. First, more police officers should be deployed on the targeted streets to instill fear in the wrongdoers and to charge them a fine. Moreover, there should be no corruption and all offenders should be treated equally. And finally, more awareness should be spread in all communities to explain to the masses, the need for these steps and how scary the worse consequences can be. The main focus of this initiative should be the parents who sometimes fail to restrict and even sometimes promote underage driving in their households. If every single person can understand the government's perspective, then Punjab can be safe again. The dire need of the hour is to take strict action against underage drivers. Additionally, policemen should keep their eyes open and nab those who are breaking the rules of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act.

Lakshit Jindal