Despite knowing that underage driving is not only a crime but also poses a danger to the lives of both, the riders and other road users, parents continue allowing their wards to operate vehicles in the city. Ironically, police action has proven inadequate in curbing underage driving, with just 12 such cases detected in the first five months of the year 2024. According to the data from the city traffic police, there have been 12 cases of underage riding detected within the city limits. Sitabuldi accounts maximum 4 such cases, 2 each in Indora and Cotton Market, and one each in Sonegaon, Sadar, Ajni, and Sakkardara police station areas. Driving on the roads without a valid driving license is a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. To operate a gearless motorbike of up to 50 CC, one must be above 16 years of age, and to operate a motorbike with gears or a car, the age requirement is 18 years and above.

 

In one of these cases, the underage boy was driving a four-wheeler belonging to his father, who is a Government servant. The Traffic Police have imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the parents of the underage riders. Expressing concern over the rising trend, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Traffic, Shashikant Satav, stressed the urgency of the situation and stated that allowing underage children to operate vehicles is extremely dangerous. Parents are being charged by the Traffic Police for permitting their children to drive without a valid license, he added.