Ludhiana: Cops crack down on underage driving

LUDHIANA: A day after TOI highlighted the issue of underage drivers creating a nuisance on city roads, especially outside schools, 140 challans were issued to individuals under the age of 18 years.
On Friday, 92 challans were issued. Of these, 11 vehicles were impounded and 26 challans were issued to parents of underage drivers who will have to attend court proceedings. On Saturday, 48 persons were booked for underage driving. Eight vehicles were impounded and 26 challans were issued to the parents.
Sub-inspector Narinder Singh, stationed at Samrala chowk zone said, “Police are checking schools situated at Chandigarh Road, Jalandhar Bypass, Civil Lines, Shastri Nagar, Urban Estate, Sahnewal Road and Sarabha Nagar.”
Joint commissioner of police (traffic and operations) Gurdial Singh said, “Six teams have been formed at zonal level. Here, guardian or owner shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with a fine of Rs 25,000.”
He also urged parents and school authorities to check the problem of underage driving. “For schoolchildren, it is fun and fashionable to ride on a high-powered motorbike. Parents let their underage kids drive vehicles. Many awareness drives have been conducted. The school management should not allow a minor to come to school on his or her personal vehicle. Parents and school management should join hands with the police to stop underage driving,” he said.
KVM School principal A P Sharma said, “We need to talk to parents first and convince them in this matter, as many parents do not follow traffic rules themselves. They are not concerned about children’s safety and they do not wear helmets or seat belts.”
Parents of the children driving illegally were booked under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act. Lately,traffic officials have been receiving complaints of school students bringing their vehicles to the school and parking in residential areas nearby, said an official from traffic department.
Area residents have also approached police officials about this. Students of city schools at Civil Lines, Kitchlu Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Dugri, Chandigarh Road, and BRS Nagar park their vehicles near parks or outside houses near the school. Harmeet Waraich, pricipal of Nankana Sahib Public School said “Students are not allowed to park their vehicles inside because they do not have a school permit. For the permit, they need a driving license and wear a helmet. A student can get a driving license at the age of 16 for non-gear vehicles.”