Underage Driving, No License, No Helmet, One-Way Violation Lives in Danger
Written by: Zaher Ahmed Awan
In every civilized society of the world, allowing a child to drive a motorcycle or car is a serious offense and there is strict punishment because the first duty of law is to protect human life. Unfortunately in our society, laws are ignored and underage driving is treated as a normal thing. Some parents even feel proud that their young son can ride a motorcycle or drive a car, but this thinking is not bravery and not intelligence, it is dangerous negligence that destroys many families. In our cities young boys use motorcycles as a toy, they perform wheelies, race, drive in wrong lanes, ride without helmets and without licenses, and this has become a disease that has destroyed the safety of the roads. Every day accidents happen causing deaths of children as well as damage to other vehicles and innocent people. Parents see it as emotion and children see it as adventure but an accident does not look at age or skill, one moment can change a whole life. The Government of Punjab and traffic police have now started strict action against underage driving. FIRs are registered against the minor driver and also against the parent or guardian. There is strict action on riding without helmet, breaking signals, driving without license and violating one-way traffic. Some people say this will harm the child’s future and his job or documents, but the real question is what is more important than life? If a child loses his life in an accident or takes someone else’s life, can apology or regret undo the damage? The purpose of the law is not to ruin futures but to prevent loss of life. If the child is not stopped today, the mistake will be bigger tomorrow. The examples of the world are clear. In the United States no one under 16 can drive and even at 16 the license comes step by step, first a learner permit, then limited license and then full license. In the United Kingdom driving before 17 is a legal offense and parents are held responsible. In the United Arab Emirates underage driving means immediate arrest, heavy fines and vehicle confiscation. There is no reference or special favor, that is why their roads are organized and safe. If other nations protect their children through strict rules then why do we insist on carelessness? Our problem is that we treat law breaking as bravery and obedience as weakness, but true progress begins with respect for the law. The solution is not only challan or FIR but public awareness. Media, schools, colleges, religious institutions and community should run awareness campaigns. Children must be taught that a motorcycle or car is not a toy, it is a responsibility and parents should be given awareness that giving a child a motorcycle is not love, it is danger. There are some practical steps that can help. The first is that when an underage driver is caught the vehicle should be kept by the government for at least one year so parents never repeat the mistake. The second is that boys of 16 or 17 who really support their families should receive training and a limited driving permit so they can ride responsibly. The third is that a person without helmet should not be fined the first time but must be given a helmet immediately and after that any violation should be punished. The fourth is that those who drive without license should be given the facility to make a license on the spot with fees but any next violation must be treated strictly. The fifth is that the government should clearly announce a simple policy: first warning, second fine, third strict action so people feel law is not enemy but protection. Underage driving is the result of parental negligence and no police or government can solve it until parents become responsible. Children copy parents, if elders break the law, children will do the same. This is why this issue is not only legal but social. We must understand that strict action is not against children but for their protection. If we leave our children free on the roads today then tomorrow only regret will remain. We should align ourselves with the law so lives can be saved, families remain safe and roads become a symbol of peace. This is responsibility, this is awareness and this is the guarantee of our future.
Read in Urdu: انڈر ایج ڈرائیونگ، بغیر لائسنس، ہیلمٹ اور ون وے خلاف ورزی زندگیاں خطرے میں
