Authorities issue advisory to curb underage driving

Srinagar, Nov 16: Authorities on Saturday issued an advisory advising school authorities, private coaching institutes and parents not to allow students and minor children to drive two or four wheelers.

The order as per the advisory has been issued in order to safeguard the lives of minor children and other road users. The advisory stated the ongoing trend of road accidents across Kashmir needs to be ended, by using every possible means.

Traffic Police Rural Kashmir in an advisory said: “All school authorities, private coaching institutes and parents are advised not to allow students/minor children to driver two/four wheelers. This trend has claimed many precious lives so far and has to be curbed in order to avoid further obliteration. In order to safe guard the lives of minor children and other road users; this trend needs to be ended, using every possible means”.

The advisory states: “Allowing a minor to drive vehicle is a serious offence and warrants punitive action under Section 199A MV Act 1988 against guardian of the juvenile or owner of motor vehicle”.

“Moreover, such guardian or owner of the vehicle under laid down norms shall be punishable with imprisonment for terms which may extend to three years and with a fine of twenty-five thousand rupees. Moreover, registration of the motor vehicle used in the commission of the offence shall be cancelled for a period of twelve months,” it reads.

“Where an offence under above said act is committed by a juvenile, then notwithstanding section 4 or 7, such juvenile shall not be eligible for granting a driving license under section 9 or learner’s license under section 8 until such juvenile shall attain the age of twenty five years. In such kind of offence, juvenile shall be punishable with such fine as provided in the Act, while any custodial sentence may be modified as per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000,” it also reads.