137 challaned in crackdown on underage driving

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 31

Since the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 has come into force, the traffic wing of the commissionerate police intensified their crackdown on underage driving and issued 137 challans from August 22 to 30.

Of these, 39 challans were issued to school vehicles, including buses, vans and auto-rickshaws for various traffic violations, while 100 challans were issued to underage drivers caught driving two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, which is in force across the state since August 21, has introduced stringent penalties to enhance road safety, especially concerning underage driving. The law stipulates hefty fines and even imprisonment for violations, with penalties up to Rs 25,000 and potential imprisonment for serious offences. This has raised the stakes for parents and guardians who are now legally responsible for the actions of their wards on roads.

In an effort to curb the rising cases of underage driving, the traffic police since the last two months increased vigilance on students. Special nakas have been strategically laid across the city, particularly near schools. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to enforce the law in letter and spirit and promote road safety among young drivers.

While emphasising on the importance of these measures, Pritpal Singh, ACP (Traffic), said, “All efforts are being made to curb underage driving in the city. Special nakas near schools are playing a crucial role in catching students violating the norms. We urge parents to make their wards aware of dangers and consequences associated with underage driving. It’s not just about following the law, it’s about protecting lives.”

He said over the past two months, the police had been actively engaging with schools and NGOs through seminars and workshops aimed at educating parents about dangers of underage driving.

Amandeep Kaur, ADCP (Traffic), said, “Though the police have been issuing challans, rigorous fines outlined in the new law are yet to be enforced.” She said, “Currently, we are issuing warnings and challans to violators. The RTO would determine the final amount of the fine, which is usually upto Rs 5,000. However, we want to make it clear that this leniency is temporary. Soon, there would be no tolerance for underage driving. Parents would be held accountable for the violation of underage driving rules by their wards. Not only they would have to pay Rs 25,000 as fine, but also an FIR could also be registered against them,” said Kaur.