Let our children fly high, not crash: B'luru top cop

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that if minors are found driving, the police will not hesitate to book cases against their parents.

"Parents of minors riding or driving two-wheelers or cars will be arrested and their vehicles will be seized," Bengaluru top cop said on Saturday during Janasamparka Diwas held at International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Electronic City.

There is a scientific reason for issuing a driving license to a person after the age of 18, he said. "Often, when children are prevented from driving a vehicle, they put forth these questions: 'But, why aren't we allowed to drive?' I have also seen children asking their parents that if they can handle an android phone at the age of seven or eight, then why not motor vehicles?" he said.

Explaining the reason, the police commissioner said, "Driving motor vehicles, including light vehicles, requires an individual to be cognitively mature. As parents, we need to understand that although our children feel thrilled by driving a vehicle, their brain isn't mature enough to handle that 'thrill'. Children may invariably make mistakes while handling the throttle, gears, steering, clutch, and brake," he said.

Bengaluru has already witnessed numerous cases of rash driving, wheelies and stunt riding while recording reels by minor youths on city roads and highways. Top cop Dayananda also recalled the Pune Porsche accident in which two people were killed.

If the child causes an accident and thereby, death or grievous harm, then the parents may be held vicariously liable for letting the child drive a vehicle illegally and without monitoring. He further said that a minor driving in a public place will be considered as a serious offence and a non-bailable case will be registered under the Juvenile Justice Act.

"Children look towards parents as their role models. Therefore, parents should be careful not to set a bad example for their children. Together, let us create a society where our children learn to fly high, not to crash," he said.