Letting your minor kid drive? Face the music

Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010


Think twice before letting your child drive a car or a motorbike. They will no longer be ignored or treated lightly. Initiating first of its kind drive on August 2 and 3, the Delhi Traffic Police have caught as many as 50 school children in uniform driving motorised vehicles from in near their
schools.

Traffic police impounded their vehicles and the children were left with a caution not to drive till they turn 18. Their parents, however, had to pay for it.

"We have initiated a special drive against driving by school-going children in Delhi. We have decided to rope in schools to sensitise students about the danger of driving by minors, with the number of such cases increasing manifolds," said Ajay Chadha, Special CP (Traffic).

He said that similar surprise drives would be conducted across Delhi repeatedly.

A senior official of the department said a major section of students who drive to school are from effluent families. "School authorities have been asked to ensure that students do not drive themselves to school. We have asked them to sensitise parents as well," said the officer.

According to official sources, the number of prosecution on minor driving had risen to 4,914 from 4,236 in 2008. In 2007, the figure was 2,997.

Traffic policemen stopped minors who were found driving vehicles, seized the vehicles, advised them about the law and hazards of minor driving, asked them to call the owner of the vehicles (mostly parents) and left them.

Owners could collect the vehicles only after paying R1,000 each — under Section 5 of Motor Vehicles Act (for allowing unauthorised person to drive).

Some of the popular schools from where students were caught include St Mary's School, Jindal Public School, Guru Harkrishan Public School in Punjabi Bagh, Indraprasth Public School in Paschim Vihar, DAV School in Shalimar Bagh, Tyagi Public School in Kesav Puram, The Srijan Senior Secondary School, St Mary's School and DAV School in Model Town.

Some of the areas from where other minor drivers were caught in large number include Ashok Vihar and Model Town in North Range, Tilak Nagar, Dwarka, Rajouri Garden, Punjabi Bagh, Kapashera, Patel Nagar in West Range.

However, only five such cases were found in Central range and three in East range.

Original news source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Letting-your-minor-kid-drive-Face-the-music/Article1-584961.aspx