Underage driving: A serious problem in Bengaluru

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Underage driving is a serious problem in Bengaluru. According to Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), the number of cases of driving by those not eligible to on account of their small age has increased in recent years.

In 2022, the BTP booked over 1,000 cases of underage driving. According to the BTP, on average, 23 minors are caught every day across the city for illegally handling a 2- or 4-wheeler.

As per the BTP, many parents and youngsters are either ignorant or are unaware of the dangers of underage driving, which often leads to fatal accidents.

Underage drivers are also more likely to be involved in other types of traffic violations, including speeding and reckless driving. In Karnataka, underage drivers between the ages of 16 and 18 may be liable for counselling and guidance programmes instead of strict punishment.

It is important to educate parents and young people about the dangers of underage driving and to enforce the law against underage drivers.

Owing to a lack of awareness, many parents permit their underage children to drive, often overlooking the potential consequences. First, parents need to be made aware of the consequences of letting their child drive without a proper licence and they need to talk to their children about the dangers of underage driving.

A parent outside a private school in Bengaluru, allowing her son to drive in his school unifor m with her seated behind, remarked, "Driving is a crucial skill, and I'm instructing my son to ride my bike."

She took pride in her son's driving abilities, despite his absence of a license or learner's permit. It is easy for young people to get access to vehicles in Bengaluru as they consider driving and reckless riding cool.

Many young people have access to their parents' vehicles or can borrow vehicles from friends or siblings. In some situations, most parents purchase vehicles for their underaged children thinking that they are helping their child learn to drive.

This makes it tempting for young people to drive, even if they are not old enough to do so legally. A senior traffic police official said, “Some youngsters, often underage, are frequently seen doing these wheelie stunts, especially on the outskirts of the city. We often crack down upon such offenders with inputs from our informers and policing members. The police are making efforts to ensure the safety of road users,” he said.

While a few years ago we could notice students riding their bicycles to school, now most students take their motorbikes or cars to school and most schools are not taking measures to create awareness among students about the risks of underage driving and basic traffic rules.

Schools need to educate students about the dangers of underage driving. They can do this by incorporating lessons about underage driving into their health and safety curriculum.

A 22-year-old rider on the road was flaunting the fact that he has been riding a bike for over 8 years, meaning that he has been riding a motorised vehicle since the young age of 15, and in fact takes pride in the fact that he has broken a major rule for over three years of his life.

There are several other youngsters such as him who flaunt their “experience” when it comes to driving. With school students being under extreme pressure from school and families and being treated “like a child” all the time, they believe that they are invincible and give them a feeling of independence when they drive.

They may underestimate the risks of underage driving and believe that they are good enough drivers to avoid an accident.