Cops, parents can fix the problem of underage driving

Set up nakas in streets
The traffic police should set up nakas in streets to nab teenagers violating traffic rules. The offenders should be challaned, howsoever influential he may be. 
SP Wadhwa,
Chandigarh 
Prevent overtaking from left side
Overtaking from the left side is a traffic hazard and must be checked strictly by the police. Youngsters often overtake vehicles from the left side posing risk to their lives.
Col JS Chandoak (retd),
Chandigarh
Levy hefty penalties 
Fast-track courts, round-the-clock vigil by dedicated cops, levying of hefty penalties, ticking off parents of teenagers violating rules, suspension or cancellation of driving licence and provision for short-term imprisonment for offenders can stem the rot.
OP Coushik,
Chandigarh
Frame stricter laws
To decrease fatalities on roads, there is a dire need for framing and enforcing stricter rules and regulations. Heavy penalties should be imposed on those found flouting traffic rules. Driving licence of serious offenders should be cancelled even if the offence is committed for the first time.
Capt Jagdish Chand (retd),
Chandigarh
Book parents of teenaged offenders
The owner of the two-wheeler used in underage driving and the parents of the children using the vehicle should be held accountable in case of accidents.
Jai Singh,
Chandigarh
Blame it on lax traffic cops
Underage driving, triple-riding and over-speeding without wearing helmet are not the only reasons for fatal accidents. The laxity of the traffic police is to be equally blamed. 
Sat Pal Kansal
Chandigarh
In Mohali, traffic rules violated without fear
In Chandigarh, such accidents occur either in early morning or late evening hours when traffic cops are not around. In Mohali, there is apparently no fear of police among violators. People jumping traffic signals and the police turning a blind eye are a common sight in the UT’s satellite city. 
Dr Gurdev Singh,
Mohali
Parents share the blame
Children as young as 13–14 years old can be seen driving a two-wheeler, which is against the rules. At times, parents ride pillion taking pride in the ‘achievement’ of their wards. Heavy volume of vehicular traffic in the tricity is one of the major reasons for fatal road mishaps. 
Col RD Singh (retd),
Ambala Cantt
Adopt zero tolerance for underage driving
There must be zero tolerance for violation of traffic rule banning underage driving. A number of teenagers have already lost their lives and many have been rendered disabled permanently. Students, who don’t have a licence, should not be allowed to bring two-wheelers to their school or college.
Paras Ram Kalotra,
Mohali 
Sensitise students to significance of traffic rules
Parents are best teachers and guides to their children. The police should also educate students about the importance of obeying traffic rules.
KC Rana,
Chandigarh
Traffic police should hold surprise checks
The traffic police should hold surprise checks to contain violations. Speed governors should be mandatory on vehicles driven by teenagers.
DS Banate,
Mohali
Parents’ leniency condemnable
Parents’ laxity in allowing their children, who don’t have a driving licence, to drive a two-wheeler is condemnable. Disciplining children so that they do not flout traffic rules is the responsibility of parents as well as teachers. They have to groom them into law-abiding citizens.
Wg Cdr JS Bhalla (retd),
Chandigarh
RLA has to be stricter
The Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) should be stricter while taking test for issuing licence.
Rashmi Anand,
Chandigarh
Don’t spare habitual offenders
Parents should cooperate with the police and the latter should not be pressurised from any corner to spare habitual offenders.
Manveer Singh,
Chandigarh
Regular patrolling by traffic cops needed
Instead of deploying traffic cops at fixed spots, the authorities should instruct them to patrol the area and nab those flouting rules. Punitive action should be taken against the offenders.
Dr Urminder Kaur,
Mohali
Hold awareness drive 
The traffic police of Chandigarh are far better than the other cities. However, the local traffic cops should start a campaign to counsel teenagers who indulge in underage driving and their parents.
Sachin Sharma,
Chandigarh
Raise awareness among school students
There should be a special period on traffic rules once a week in each school. During this period, a trained professional should make students aware of traffic rules.
Ravinder Nath,
Chandigarh
Counsel children
Parents should discuss with their teenaged wards the consequences of breaking rules and regulations. They should tell them that observing rules would ensure their safety.
Prashant Vashisth,
Chandigarh
Cops favouring offenders a cause for concern
Often, the police neglect investigation, enable destruction of evidence and demoralise witnesses with their callous behaviour while the victim watches helplessly. Thus, the system actively weakens cases allowing offenders to escape punishment, which is demoralising for law-abiding citizens.
Krishnaraj Rao,
Chandigarh

COMMENT
Rajmeet  Singh*

Instil fear of law among teenagers

Underage drivers are seldom checked for overspeeding and helmet-less driving in the city, increasing the risk of mishaps involving teenaged drivers. 

In absence of a regular drive against underage driving, law-abiding road users find themselves at the mercy of teenagers who drive vehicles at breakneck speed, either for thrill or under the influence of liquor/drugs. 

Two recent accidents in Chandigarh and Mohali that left three youths, who were riding triple and were without helmets, killed has raised a concern over poor enforcement of traffic rules.

Though the police have challaned over 11 lakh offenders and collected more than Rs 29 crore as fine, and impounded more than 37,000 vehicles in the past five years, traffic violations by teenagers continue unabated. 

Official statistics reveal that around 450 challans have been issued for underage driving in the last three years.

The police need to launch regular drives outside educational institutions and instil fear of the law among teenagers. The parents of unauthorised teenaged driver or the owner of the vehicle involved in violation of traffic rules should be held accountable.

It is not only the police that have to be blamed for the problem of underage driving, the parents need to educate their children about traffic rules.

(* The writer is Chief City Reporter)