Driving by the underage people is not uncommon in this part of the world. Especially so in the rural areas. Although underage driving stands strictly prohibited for the risks linked with it, those not possessing the required age for driving can be seen taking to it at will.
Teenagers drive vehicles — bikes, scooty, auto rickshaws and cars —without license, violate the law and put lives at risk, including their own. People assume that the issue is off the priority list of the authorities. Some time back, an accident occurred in my area in which three boys lost their lives when their fellow underage driver was unable to control the vehicle he was driving.
Many underage drivers are left injured. Sometimes seriously. Which means the loss of the hard earned income of their parents — the money which could well be utilized in the right direction, ends up spent for an undesirable work: in treating the injuries.
Notably, deaths due to road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir/ JK remain as a major cause. According to a recently released report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), an alarming total of 4,287 lives were tragically lost due to road accidents from 2018 to 2022 in J&K.
As per media reports, Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 saw a sharp rise in road accidents. 6,298 incidents reported. These accidents killed 893 people, leaving 8,489 others wounded. The police say that the chief causes of these accidents are excessive speed, overloading and rough driving.
What adds fuel to fire is the fact that teenager drivers— especially in rural areas— do not put on helmets while operating the two wheelers. (True most adults too drive unhelmeted) And with no one to stop or council, the teenagers derive pleasure in driving at an alarming speed. Stunts steal the show, leading to the unbalance of the vehicle. Thus occur accidents.
Parents, in most cases, are directly responsible for the underage accidents. A friend recently told this author that in his neighborhood, three underage boys met with an accident when they were traveling in an auto rickshaw. One of them was driving the vehicle on way to a cricket ground for a cricket match. The friend further said the driving boy had received the rickshaw from his home. Had his parents denied the ride, the accident could have been prevented. Luckily, the three children were just injured mildly.
Agreed that teenagers/ the underage are hard to convince against driving — not to speak of just rash driving— but we as adults or parents must discourage underage driving. No room for a non-serious attitude. A firm stand by parents and social disapproval can significantly reduce the chances of underage driving. Too difficult but not impossible.
What is more disturbing is the glorification of underage driving. These words of undue praise come from adults and parents, encouraging the youngster drivers to risk everything, including life, while driving. That promotes careless driving. And major accidents take place. Look around; your eyes will sight a teenage biker or car driver with the parents or any adult traveling along. May be the speed is not an issue here. But this driving encourages the teenagers to enjoy extreme fast driving alone or together.
As parents or adults, we can well do one important thing: keep the vehicle keys out of the sight and knowledge of the teenagers. I am sure; many among us are doing it. So am I. But at times, I forget where I have kept them because my memory is poor. I believe, yours is not. Therefore, with the keys not available, teenagers can be kept away from driving.
In addition to good and responsible parenting, effective schooling and education are potential tools against the underage driving. That calls for a serious intervention by policy-makers, media and civil society to frame curriculum which creates continued awareness on traffic norms and regulations. The inclusion of anti-teenage driving material in the syllabi can be given a thought.
The strict implementation of the codal norms in existence against underage driving can prove a strong deterrent. The police of this Union Territory has been doing an outstanding job for the past few years to curb social crimes; unlawful driving including. There is no doubt that if the authorities keep on prohibiting the underage driving, the latter is certain to become the thing of the past soon.
Religious leaders also can play a pivotal role in putting an end to underage driving: The pulpit ideally is in a strong position to dissuade teenagers from driving.
(Author is teacher by profession and RK Columnist. Email: [email protected])
