No licence to drive: 80% violators in city are minors

In the month of January alone, the Gurgaon traffic police issued challans to 758 motorists for driving without a licence. On an average, the police challan nearly 25 such offenders daily. HT reports.

Traffic violations are on the rise in Millennium City.

HT Image

In the month of January alone, the Gurgaon traffic police issued challans to 758 motorists for driving without a licence. On an average, the police challan nearly 25 such offenders daily.

In January, the traffic police had launched several drives to nab erring drivers.

Interestingly, 80% of the defaulters turned out to be schoolchildren and a majority of them were caught while going to school or tuition classes.

Police officials blamed parents for encouraging their minor children to drive vehicles.

Several school-going students have been booked for driving SUVs and luxury cars in the city.

“People don’t obey driving rules in Gurgaon. They indulge in rash driving and this is because they are not trained drivers,” said Ashok Singh, a local resident who is a software engineer.

DCP (east) Maheshwar Dayal said, “Parents should also be punished for providing two-wheelers and cars to their children without a licence.”

The traffic police will launch another drive from February 5 to February 20 to catch children behind the wheel.

“We will take strict action against parents if their children are found driving cars or two-wheelers from February 5,” he added. Dayal said the department would also launch a special drive to impound vehicles of children parked outside schools.

Last year, a total of 14,419 challans were issued against motorists driving without a valid driving licence. In 2011, the number was 21,370.