A date with danger

Observe Bengaluru’s roads and it is not difficult to see youngsters vrooming away in cars or speeding away on bikes, some even when they are not in the legal age to drive or ride.

In light of the recent drag-race accident involving teenagers, concerns about these antics on the roads are getting louder.

Ranjeeta Palanivelu, a volunteer at a school and mother to 17-year-old Pradhaan and 15-year-old Aaditya says that she has always made her sons aware of the rules and the repercussions of not following them.

“The best way to make a youngster understand about the rules is to follow them yourself. Be it
wearing helmets or seatbelts, switching on the proper indicators when moving, there is a lot that young drivers learn from their elders,” she says.

“There should be more campaigns and sessions held at schools regularly to keep youngsters aware of the rules. Parents also need to have open discussions on this with their children,” she says.

Approaching pre-teenagers and teenagers through technology and social platforms is the best way ahead, says Shilpa Patangay, an insurance agent and mother to 15-year-old Vritti. “The need to follow rules can be ingrained easily when such messages are communicated through platforms like WhatsApp as most youngsters are on it,” she says. “I’ve also told Vritti that she can ride her bicycle only in the park. Handling a teenager can be tricky and making them understand the need to obey rules is quite challenging,” Shilpa adds.

Making youngsters listen to experiences of families and people who have escaped grave accidents would be another way to approach this situation. Arun N, mother to 17-year-old Anisha, says, “The very fact that they shouldn’t be on the road is one thing and the need to be good drivers when they reach the legal age is another. I have seen many young drivers and riders taking wrong turns, riding with more than one pillion rider, doing wheelies, speeding etc. This open flouting of rules should be addressed at home itself.”

“There are many short films and news clips that can be used to communicate messages on road safety and why one should avoid underage driving,” she adds.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities have been trying to make Bengalureans increasingly aware of traffic rule violations through their campaigns.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), R Hitendra, says that parents are responsible for their minor children getting into such practices. “It is not just the responsibility of the traffic department to keep perpetrators off the road. It is the responsibility of parents to communicate to their children about traffic laws and the fines as well,” he says.

The fine for driving a motor vehicle in any public place by an under-aged person according to Section 181 of the Motor Vehicle Act is Rs 500.

“But it’s not just about the fine. As a department, we try to educate around 30,000 students every year with our campaigns. We will focus on 15-year-olds to 17-year-olds and continue to approach schools and PU colleges to create awareness among them,” he says.