Good Motoring
Arrest parents of underage drivers
H. Kishie Singh

MUNNA (name changed) decided to do her bit for global warming, and keeping Chandigarh cool. She organised a car pool with parents in her sector to take children to school. It worked very well. Her turn to be the driver came after four weeks. On the way to school, she came to a junction, and the traffic light was red. She stopped. After waiting for, may be, 10-15 seconds, a girl in the back seat asks: "Aunty, why have you stopped?"

Munna: "Because there is a red light. I have to wait for it to turn green for me to go." "My mom never waits at a red light. She says it is a waste of time," says the child.

So there you have it. Munna has the qualities of a good driver, and is a responsible and law-abiding citizen.

Other than the danger of a child growing up with warped ideas and wrong notions, the immediate danger is of your child being ferried around town by a cowboy (cowgirl?) at the wheel, who has scant regard for traffic rules. Jumping a red light is a very serious offence because it endangers lives; in this case, your child’s. It was such a good idea to organise a car pool, but not such a good idea if the driver is irresponsible.

Here is another example of irresponsible parents. At a cocktail party, a father puffs out his chest and proudly proclaims: "My 13-year-old son is driving my car. I taught him." " Well done. Shabaash," said the people around.

There was not one voice of disapproval or disgust. The man was training a monster to be let lose on the roads, and revelling in the glory. Renuka Choudhrie was correct in saying that the parents of underage drivers are the ones who should be arrested.

Why is 18 the minimum age for a driving licence? Till 18, he/she is considered a child. After that the person is an adult, hopefully. Till 18 a child has not matured enough to handle the fast-changing scenario on our roads. He/she may not be able to make the right decisions on the spot. The child’s reaction may be wrong, due to lack of experience. Impulsiveness and panic will lead to disaster. The child’s life is in danger, as is every other road user’s; and the parents are to blame. Renukaji is right. Arrest the parents.

When underage drivers get into trouble, the parents all sing the same song: "Children don’t listen to us." So, who gave them driving lessons at 13, and the keys to the car? Parents. Other than experimenting – all children do – there is the danger of reckless behaviour that comes with experimenting. This leads to stunt driving on public roads. This, in turn, leads to unnecessary deaths.

Possibly, the most important reason you are not allowed to drive till 18 is a condition referred to as "situation awareness." Even adults may not be able to cope with some situations, and this could lead to problems. A tyre blow out? Car in ditch? What to do? Awareness for what to do in such situations only comes with maturity and experience.

The biggest reason for our unsafe roads is the wanton disregard for traffic rules. This is the surest way to disaster, and also the way to be regarded as a hero. Wrong parental guidance, dad’s car keys easily available, and no dearth of alcohol and big money are reasons for our youth to drive in a reckless manner on the roads.

Happy motoring.

Never carry petrol containers in your car. Extreme heat and spontaneous combustion can lead to a fire.