What is shocking is that 9.6 per cent of casualties from road accidents involve individuals below 18 years of age — obviously underage drivers. Recently two most harrowing accidents came to pass: In Tengpora (Jammu and Kashmir) and Dehradun (Uttarakhand). These grisly mishaps, like many others, make a telling commentary on a pressing issue: underage driving continues to claim young lives. Both society and state share the onus for slamming a brake on the rapid occurrence of road accidents.
The Tengpora tragedy saw two 17-year-olds killed when their SUV collided with a truck; the Dehradun accident saw a high-speed car crash killing six lives. Both accidents were avoidable. In India, traffic accidents jumped from 3, 68,828 in 2020 to 4, and 22,659 in 2021.
Driving by the underage people — especially in the rural areas– is a common sight here despite it being an unlawful act for the risks linked with it. Teenagers drive vehicles –two wheelers, auto rickshaws and cars –without a license, violate the law and imperil lives — including their own. There is a perception among masses that the issue is a low priority for the authorities .The notion needs to be dispelled at the earliest though the law is clear — under the Motor Vehicles Act, no one below 18 years of age can drive.
Droves of underage drivers are rendered wounded; sometimes languishing in bed for months together, finding down the drain the hard earned income of their parents. This money could be spent well towards some fruitful purpose but it ends up spent for an undesirable work: in treating the injuries. Notably, deaths from 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. It is widely believed that speeding, overloading and unnecessary overtaking contribute to the growing road mishaps. Shockingly, most teenage drivers do not put on helmets while operating the two wheelers. (True a significant population of adults too drives 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 imbalance of the vehicle and subsequent fatalities. Police cannot keep an eye everywhere; nor can punitive measures work wonders every time. Society must step in with a reformative mindset to help stem the steady wave of road accidents. The ‘buisness as usual approach’ will exacerbate the situation.
True, culture and the prevailing social environment significantly determine the driving notions of teen agers. Yet 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. The friend further said the boy drove the rickshaw from his home. Had his parents denied the ride, the accident could have been prevented.
Agreed that teenagers/ underage drivers are hard to convince against driving — not to speak of just rash driving— but we as adults or parents must discourage underage driving. A firm stand by parents and social disapproval can significantly reduce the chances of underage driving. Too difficult but not impossible. Families must be held accountable.
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 everyone’s life, while driving. That helps spur careless driving. Look around; your eyes will cite 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 in a bid to upstage others. As parents or adults, we can well do one important thing: keep the vehicle keys out of the sight and knowledge of the teenagers. Many among us are doing it. Therefore, with the keys held by parents, teenagers can stay away from driving. Parental neglect should be a big cause of concern.
Aside from 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. That the Director School Education, Kashmir has banned underage driving to the institutions is appreciable. Religious leaders also can play a pivotal role in combating underage driving: The pulpit ideally is in a strong position to dissuade teenagers from driving. Banning the purchase of vehicle fuel to the underage can prove a viable move. The strict application of traffic laws is central to gain ground in curbing road accidents.
Education and social pressure are of immense utility against unsafe use of roads. While parental role is a key, society at large must not look the other way on noticing an act of unsafe driving.
(Author is a teacher by profession and RK columnist. He can be reached at: [email protected])
