Kozhikode: For the Motor Vehicles Department, taking action against those using vehicles without a licence has become a usual practice. Officials say that every day a minimum of 25 people, a majority of them underage drivers, are caught using vehicles without a licence. At a recent video conference organized by transport minister and PWD minister with the officials of Traffic department and MVD, the decision was made to start a drive to check violation of traffic rules from February 15 to March 15.
In just three days since it started, Regional Transport Officer C.K. Paulson said that most of the violators were those driving/riding without a licence. “On the first day we took action against 21 who did not have a licence, among these a majority of them were underage drivers,” he added. In January, nearly 150 cases were registered against vehicle users not having a licence, and in December, there were 92. In just 15 days in February, action has been taken against 52 persons, mostly underage riders for not having a licence.
Mr Paulson added, “Recently, a random visit to several areas of the city revealed that students in the age group of 14 to 18 drive their vehicles recklessly. They jump red lights and do not bother about wearing helmets, he added. Unfortunately, neither parents nor teachers are bothered about stopping them from driving/riding.” Parking slots of schools and tuition centers are witnessing a huge rush of vehicles as a large number of students commute on two-wheelers.
“When the academic year started, we issued circulars to schools in the city saying they would be held responsible for any such accident. Despite that nothing has happened so far”, he added. Plans have also been made to make it mandatory for pillion riders to use helmets. “We are waiting for the High court directive that will make helmets for pillion riders mandatory. All these measures are being taken to help in reducing deaths due to accidents,” he said.
