340 challaned for underage driving in 55 days

Despite extensive awareness drives in schools and in public places, underage driving remains a problem in the city. The traffic police had started a campaign against underage driving last month and as many as 340 challans were issued to offenders in the past 55 days.

Among these challans, 179 were issued in the month of August and 161 were issued this month till September 24.

Traffic police officials, meanwhile, had been taking a measured approach, prioritising education over penalties. Challans were being issued but not extensively. As the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, came into effect on August 1, traffic authorities visited schools to sensitise students and school administrators about the new legal provisions. Though the awareness drive is over, students seem to be paying not much heed to the rules

During a visit to various schools, it was observed that students continue to ride two-wheelers and even drive cars without a licence. Some were even caught driving without wearing helmets.

The vehicles of students were seen parked outside school premises, as institutions prohibit on-campus parking. Earlier, when traffic police had started a challaning drive, schools had not even been allowing students to park their vehicles outside but with the passage of time, schools are now not putting any restraint over such parking.

A traffic police official said they have already given enough time to parents to ensure that their wards do not drive to schools but now extensive challaning would be done and heavy penalty would be levied on the offenders.

“Students using battery-operated vehicles don’t require a licence but need RTA permission. However, careless driving will be penalised and parents will face punishment for allowing underage driving. We don’t want parents to bear the brunt of heavy penalties for underage driving offence. But if they continue to send their wards to schools on vehicles, they should be ready to pay the price. An extensive challaning drive will be conducted in the coming days to catch the underage drivers,” added a traffic official.