Kozhikode: Indulgent parents to be held accountable

KOZHIKODE: The increasing number of underage drivers has forced the police department to launch a special drive to catch hold of ‘child drivers’ and register a case against their parents,  in whose name the registration certificate (RC) of the vehicles are. In Kasargod, the special drive began last Monday and Wayanad will launch the drive today (Tuesday).

“The issue is more rampant in Kasargod, where most of the fathers of the families are in the Gulf. Other members of the family, including the mothers do not have much influence on the children. So, they usually take the vehicles, without the consent of the family. In one week alone, 20 cases of underage driving were registered in the district,” said District Police Chief Thomson Jose.

Mr Jose added that children aged 13 and 14 were also caught in the drive. The police also plans to hold awareness programmes involving children as well as their parents. According to 336 IPC, the penalty for underage driving is three months of imprisonment or a fine of '250, for endangering the life or personal safety of others. Police says, for the rich children, the amount was negligible and in any case, penalty alone was not a discouraging factor, they needed awareness.

Police caught three students from Uppala and Manjampara on Monday, with bikes. Kasargod town police registered case against the father of a 17-year-old boy on Thursday.  Wayanad District Police Chief K Karthik said that a similar drive would be launched in the district on Tuesday , considering the rise in the number of underage drivers.  Kozhikode Traffic assistant commissioner A.K. Babu said that they were giving awareness classes to the offenders as well as their parents as it was more important than penalty. Classes are open from 11am to 1pm, except on Sundays.