Malerkotla admn claims fall in number of underage drivers

Malerkotla, August 24

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The administration has acknowledged a noticeable decline in the number of underage children driving two-wheelers in violation of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019.

However, achieving the target of zero tolerance in strict compliance of the new rules — regarding underage driving — still remains a challenge for the traffic police.

While a majority of residents have appreciated the concern shown by the administration towards safety of children in general, especially students, some parents continue to neglect the rules.

E-rickshaw and auto-rickshaw pliers seem to have made use of the development for enhancing their business. They have started receiving offers to transport students between school and home on a daily basis.

District Nodal Officer DSP Ranjit Singh Bains claimed that there was a noticeable decline in the number of underage drivers. “Though we are yet to achieve the target of zero tolerance against underage driving, there has been a noticeable fall in the number of two-wheelers being driven by underage children,” said Bains. He acknowledged that coordinated efforts by the traffic police, Education Department personnel and social organisation had yielded positive results on the problem.

Maintaining that the personnel supervised by SSP Gagan Ajit Singh were simultaneously undertaking persuasive and punitive action, Bains said his office was yet to receive a number of challans issued to underage drivers in various beats of the district.

He called upon parents who allow their underage children to drive restricted vehicles to understand that it was their responsibility to make arrangements for safe travel of their wards to and from school.

Meanwhile, specially constituted teams of police personnel and volunteers from social organisations are organising events to sensitise all stakeholders about the causes and consequences of violation of new traffic rules on underage driving.