Underage driving still a common sight outside schools in Ludhiana

Tribune News Service

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Ludhiana, July 31
Though the traffic police have been holding extensive awareness campaign in schools to sensitise students to the implementation of Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019, from August 1, underage driving is still a common sight outside the schools. During visit to various schools in the city in the morning and afternoon hours, students were seen riding two-wheelers with impunity. Some of them were also seen driving cars to their schools.

However, Ludhiana traffic police personnel said they would not simply start extensive challaning from August 1, instead, the officials would visit every school to make students and school authorities aware of new provisions of law.
It was also observed that students using two or four-wheelers did not park their vehicles inside the schools as the institutes are not allowing them to do the same. They usually park their vehicles outside the schools. The school authorities shirk their accountability by saying that they were not allowing underage students to enter schools on their vehicles.
However, during visit to a school in Shastri Nagar on Wednesday, it was noticed that earlier a large number of two-wheelers used to be parked alongside the outer wall of the school but today, the number was quite less. It may be due to the awareness or instructions regarding the traffic rules being passed on to pupils by the school management or some students might be parking their vehicles in residential areas or markets.
Even the number of two-wheelers parked outside a school in Kitchlu Nagar was also found to be less than usual. Still, many students who were not having driving licence were seen using vehicles. A similar situation was noticed at some other schools.
When asked if the police are going for extensive challaning from August 1 onwards, ADCP (Traffic) Gurpreet Kaur Purewal told The Tribune here on Wednesday that the police would not start challaning drive straightway from tomorrow as a lot of awareness was needed so that parents could make the adjustment.
“It’s just a week now that traffic officials have been conducting daily seminars in schools about the new rule. Till we cover all schools, the traffic police will not start the extensive challaning drive. But the officials will set up nakas and if any underage student or anyone is found driving rash, at high speed or using modified silencers on motorcycles, a challan of Rs 25,000 will be issued and parents will also face punishment,” the ADCP said.
Purewal said students using battery-operated vehicles did not require a driving licence and after obtaining permission from the RTA, they could go to schools. But if they drive carelessly, action would be taken against them.
What the rules say
Underage driving: Parents of minors in the state to face up to three years in prison and Rs 25,000 fine. As per the newly inserted Section 199 A in the amended Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019, the guardian of the minor or owner of the vehicle gives vehicle to the juvenile for going to school, the former will be considered guilty of breaking the rules and will be punished accordingly. There is also a provision that a minor who commits the offence would be barred from getting a driving licence till the age of 25, followed by cancellation of registration of the vehicle, used by the minor, for 12 months.