‘Boys will risk lives, State needs to firm up’
The bike without number plates used by cops on night patrol. This photo was clicked in secret by a woman who was stopped and harassed at night by cops
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: New-gen motorcycles that are the craze among youngsters are giving sleepless nights to parents as fatal or near-fatal accidents involving new-gen bikes are becoming rampant.
While transport experts blame it on poor safety aspects of new gen motorcycles and bad roads, psychiatrists stress the need for parents to tackle risky behaviour among teenagers.
In the latest instance, two youngsters on a new-gen motorcycle met with a serious road accident at Kowdiar and are now battling for life.
Over the last couple of years, a series of fatal accidents involving new-gen bikes were reported and in all incidents the victims were youngsters.
Riders of new-gen motorcycles, which have a cubic capacity of 200 and more, often cite lack of avenues for riding the vehicles in its speed ranges.
While the maximum speed-limit prescribed for two wheelers on our roads is 70 kilometres per hours, some of the new-gen bikes demand higher speed ranges and hence the police very often give some consideration to speeding youngsters.
“As new-gen motorcycles are becoming very rampant we often keep off from any intense checks on isolated stretches, unless the rider poses a danger to others or drives rashly,” a police official admitted.
Meanwhile, traffic experts point out that many new-gen motorcycles are compromising on safety aspects while giving stress on engine power and design.
“Theatre type seating without handles for the pillion rider, lack of anti-skid braking systems and poor road conditions attribute the risks involved in using new-gen motorbikes on our roads,” said traffic expert Upendra Narayana.
He also suggested that the state government should exercise its powers on insisting on specifications for motorcycles that can run on our roads.
While many blame it on parents for providing such ‘risky vehicles’ to their children, psychiatrists suggests that parents should be able to tackle such demands of children.
“During the adolescent age, children, especially boys, show impulsive risk behaviour. While children come up with demands for new-gen bikes, parents should not either bluntly say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but should negotiate demands with children and convince them of its ill effects,” said Dr. R Jayaprakash, additional professor of pediatrics and child psychiatrist at SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
He added that automobile manufactures were also influencing children on risky driving through advertisements.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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