Over 3,441 cases of minor driving in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The city traffic police has been conducting several drives to check violations of traffic rules by minors. This year up to August around 3,441 minors were caught by the Hyderabad Traffic Police.The minors are quite often seen riding two-wheelers in the city.

Cops warn that if any minor is caught for the first time, they are asked to come with their parents for counselling. However, a challan will be issued to the parents.

Speaking to the Hans India, Anil Kumar, Additional CP (Traffic), said, "The traffic police have been conducting several awareness programmes in the educational institutions about road safety. Parents of the children too were invited for the traffic awareness programmes."

Minors in excitement drive vehicles very recklessly. There have been instances where the minors were seen driving huge vehicles just in order to show their friends.

Blame it on parents

Whenever a minor is caught, the blame is directly going to land at the doorstep of parents. Parents feel happy when their child learns to ride. And they allow their children to take vehicles out for a ride, but are not only endangering their lives but also of others.

Many lives are destroyed over little joyrides by minor drivers. The Hyderabad city police summons parents along with the kids to brief them about the rules and make them aware of the risks to their kids and other commuters.

It all starts off with something small errand like sending them to fetch groceries nearby or dropping a guest who has come home. Parents are the ones who encourage the children when they know very well that it is a violation of traffic rules and regulations, say cops.

"When we speak to parents, they claim that they are being threatened and blackmailed by their children that if they don't give them a vehicle, they will resort to extreme act. However, this doesn't mean that they hand over keys to the minor to kill some other innocent person on the road," said a senior official.

New MV Act

The police and activists are hoping that the new Motor Vehicles Act, which was recently put into force, will help them deal with the issue. However the new MV Act has still not been implemented in Telangana.

The new MV act states that a fine amount of Rs 10,000 to 25,000 will be issued. The fine amount will add up in case, the violator is without helmet, has more than two pillions with him.

The parents or guardians can get up to 3 years imprisonment. These children will also be sent in a Juvenile court. The new MV Act also states that the registration of the motor vehicle used by the minor shall be cancelled for a period of twelve months.