Parents, colleges casual about minor motorists

City colleges say they face opposition from parents while trying to impose rules regarding minors riding to college without a driving licence.Students maintain that colleges don't take these rules too seriously

BENGALURU: Despite a directive by the despartment of primary and secondary education to dissuade students below the age of 18 from driving or riding without licences, it is the lack of strict implementation from the side of colleges and 'worried' parents that this continues in the city.      
The traffic police also recently invplved this directive by the department of primary and secondary education asking institutions to stop those parking without a valid driving licence (DL).

‘Opposition from parents a major reason’

There are a number of colleges that have not implemented the directive sincerely, and one of the major reasons for this is opposition from the side of parents, who think their children are better off using private transport, despite being underage.

Miriam (name changed) a PU student at St Anne’s College on Miller's Road, says that her college management has asked students not to park vehicles within the campus if they don't have a DL. The college, however, says that they are not able to follow the directive because of parents objecting to it. "We did make an announcement asking the students not to drive without licences. But this was not taken well by a few parents. So we had to take an undertaking from the students stating that the college authority won’t be held responsible if any incident takes place," says Sister Annete, principal, St Anne’s College.

Dr Edward Christopher, principal of New Horizon PU College in Indiranagar, says that in many cases, parents do not co-operate. "I have seen cases where both parents are working and cannot drop their wards to college. They feel that public transport is too much of a hassle. As a result, they give their vehicles to their children for their own as well as their children's conveniance. However, they are jeopardizing safety in the process," he says. Parents should be held accountable when anything goes wrong, adds Christopher.

The police have a provision in place whereby parents of underage youth caught driving are booked, as seen in the recent accident involving minors who were speeding on Hosur Road.
Tasneem (name changed), Ayesha's mother, says, "My daughter has to travel nearly 10-12 kms to reach her college. I don't want her using public transport because it is not safe. Every day, we hear of incidents of crime against women. Moreover, it is not easy to get an auto or public transport where we live." Keeping all these things in mind, she says that it's better that her daughter took her own two-wheeler to college.

Directive not taken seriously
City Express checked with students studying in several PU colleges across the city, and found that the order was not being followed by many colleges. The directive was issued in the wake of a number of deaths involving minors, resulting from fatal automobile mishaps and accidents.

Clement Melvin, a student from a popular PU college in Hebbal, highlights how despite the institution knowing about the directive, has chosen to not implement it seriously, "Our college provides parking space for all its students and staff. They had warned students that they wouldn't provide parking space for students without a DL. I do not have a DL, but manage to park my vehicle nevertheless," he adds.
At another institution, Syed Arman, a PU student, says that the rules are not very strict when it comes to parking in the college. "As far as I know, no restrictions have been imposed as far as parking is concerned. Usually, I see that in other colleges, awareness and safety drives are organised by the authorities. There is no such thing at my college," he says. What's more, anyone from the college can freely park anywhere, and the college does not have a problem with it, he says. "No one asks for a DL.

There are parking spaces aplenty," adds Armaan.At college on Vittal Mallya Road, students have not even heard of such a directive.Touqueer Shah, a PU student, says, "Even my college has not said anything about it. I have been parking my vehicle within the college campus without any problem," he says.

Recent cases of vehicle accidents involving minors

In September, three boys racing in their fathers'vehicles were involved in a fatal accident on Hosur Road. The three boys were all below 18 years,and was killed in the accident.In another incident,a pillion rider lost her life while her friend, a PU student,was performing a wheelie in Ulsoor that went horribly wrong.

Fines no deterrent

The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 says that fines must be livied to underage drivers, but because they aren't heavy, minors dn't take them seriously. Most reported cases of underage road accidents take place in the age bracket of 15 to 17 years,say authorities. DLs are issued only after a person reaches 18 years.

So whose responsiblty is it?

Many institutions do not provide parking facilities for students. But does the responsibility of the institution end there? A lecturer at a popular college on Palace Road, says, "We don't provide parking facilities for students. On the day of orientation, students are advised not to ride vehicles unless they have a DL. The college authority does not have any rights once the student steps out of the college campus."