In a bold move to curb the growing menace of underage driving, the Rajasthan police have taken a leaf out of Hyderabad’s book. The traffic police in Rajasthan have rolled out a robust strategy to tackle this issue, which includes the possibility of jailing parents if their underage children are caught driving. Traffic DIG of Rajasthan, S Parimala, revealed that mandatory counselling sessions for both the minor and the vehicle’s registered owner would be the course of action for first-time offenders.
The plan, which has been promptly put into action, focuses on the dangers underage drivers pose to themselves and others. It stipulates that repeat offenders will be prosecuted under the Motor Vehicle Act. Already, 332 individuals have undergone counselling sessions, with Kota accounting for 195 of these sessions.
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Parimala underscored the urgent need for strict enforcement, pointing out the often overlooked incidents of accidents involving minors. She added that if minors are caught driving vehicles not registered under their names, it would lead to investigations into the registered owners.
As per the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988, both minors and their parents can be prosecuted under Sections 180 and 181. The penalties for these offenses could include a jail term of up to three months, fines between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000, or both.
This initiative is reminiscent of the successful campaign run by the Hyderabad police earlier this year, where parents were held legally accountable for allowing their underage children to drive. In a further step, the Rajasthan police are considering instructing district education officials to take action against schools that allow minors to drive within their premises.
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