Sometimes scenes become scary on roads. One gets goosebumps when some persons, mostly teenagers, drive their bikes at break-neck speed and overtake through the left side of a vehicle. At times they move in a zigzag manner, veering alternately to right and left at very high speed. These raw hands endanger not only their own precious lives but also the lives of others. Strangely, no action is taken against them by authorities in the technological driven times. Some of them can be easily identified and action taken against them to be a deterrence to others. Rash-driving most often results in accidents. Sometimes the accidents prove fatal. Sometimes the minors seat two or three other children on their bikes and scooties. This is dangerous also. Underage driving is one of the major causes of traffic snarls and causes danger to other motorists and pedestrians on the roads.
According to the Section 199A Motor Vehicle Act 1988, when the offence under the Act is committed by a juvenile, the guardian of such juvenile or the owner of the motor vehicle shall be deemed to be guilty and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. The father of the juvenile pleaded guilty.
According to psychiatrists, adolescent children, and boys more often, indulge in bike racing and rash driving to impress peers. They feel a sense of freedom by violating the law and it is that feeling that prompts an underage driver to not wear helmets and seat belts. Most of them don’t follow traffic rules, a self destructive factor which also poses danger to other road users.
Teenage driving remains a risk because minors cannot make judgements and are bad at decision-making.
As observed rightly by a court last year, it is the first and foremost duty of parents not to provide their minor children any vehicle unless they attain majority and have license to drive the vehicle. It is also the duty of teachers not to allow the minor students to drive the vehicles and impart education regarding these issues. Also importantly, the government must step-in and create awareness about rash driving. People need to be educated not to overtake on the left side of the vehicle. There is need to take action against the minor motorists and at least safety guard must be ensured. Parents need to keep a watch on their child and ensure necessary instructions to keep them safe as well as pedestrians and other motorists on the road.
