Why parents do it

Sumedha Sharma in Gurugram

Underage driving continues to be the biggest challenge for Gurugram police. As much as 40 per cent of total challans issued every day are for traffic violations by underage drivers. Despite repeated challan and awareness drives, parents are yet to wake up to the danger that this menace poses. Caring two hoots for traffic rules, underage drivers can be seen zipping around on their bikes and cars on city roads, endangering their own lives as well as those of pedestrians and other drivers.

In 2014, the traffic police had issued 544 challans to underage drivers. In 2015, the figure was 131, while in 2016 around 107 minor drivers were caught by the traffic police. The number jumped to more than 700 challans in 2017.  So far this year the number of challans issued is more than 200.

“It is not just about traffic norms but more about safety of young and other people on road. These are not minor traffic violations such as teenagers driving scooties or Activas without helmets but parents carelessly handing over their SUVs to children for 'brief' distances. This has led to many fatal accidents. Though the police does carry out challan drives and awareness drives in schools, from time to time. However, it is more important for parents to understand the danger and the threat it poses both to the child as well as to others. If a child is caught for a serious traffic violation we call the parents on the spot as they are the ones who are responsible,” said Police Commissioner KK Rao.

In order to curb this problem, the district administration many times ropes in schools so as to discourage students from using age-inappropriate vehicles like bikes, cars, SUVs, etc.

“All schools have been instructed to take strict measures to discourage children from coming on bikes or any other self-driven vehicles to schools. Parents and teachers need to make the children aware of the importance of traffic norms and hazards of driving. Till this message is inculcated right from beginning no amount of policing can deter this,” says Deputy Commisioner Vinay Partap Singh. 

The parents, however, blame lack of safe school or public transport as a reason behind their their decision to handover wheels to kids.

“Both of us are working and we can’t afford a driver. My daughter has to go for her tuitions daily. Due to the fear of eve teasing, molestation and nonexistent bus or metro network in our area, I am forced to give her a scooty. If the authorities want this problem to be resolved then they should provide safe public transport for our children,” says Rachit Sangwan, parent of a teenage girl, who lives in Sector 4.