Dear Editor,
Driving without helmet or carrying in your arm but not on the head may be a fashion statement to maintain hair style but it poses threat to people and themselves. It is much evident school going and college youngsters are mostly the violators of this very safety rule. The fault is not only with the students but parents are also equally responsible, who allow them to use bikes neglecting the safety norms.
It is a common scene where children within the age group of 14-16 years can be seen zipping through the lanes and main roads of the city throwing all rules and regulations to the wind. Such incidents not only put the life of people in danger but at times have led to tragic ends leaving many families grieving.
Parents and police have become mute spectators to the increasing menace of minors driving two wheelers and cars. The Traffic Department has failed to take effective measures in this regard.
Many school and college goings can be seen driving without license, helmets. Drunk driving, without valid documents, jumping traffic signals and use of mobile phones goes unchecked. No strict action has been taken to curb the menace.
Rash driving, two wheeler riders without helmets, illegally parked vehicles and overtaking by rashly driven mini-buses and buses has become norm of the day, while personnel deployed on the roads seems to occasionally take steps to deal with the
menace.
Now with the Civil Secretariat being functional in Jammu, number of vehicles going up the chances of mishappenings too has multiplied.
Despite Traffic Police installing no-entry signboards on many roads to avoid traffic jams, people continue to defy the rules, with Traffic Police watching as mute spectator at every violation. Even offences like non-use of crash helmets, negligent driving, no proper number plates and drunken driving go unchecked.
It seems as if these young drivers are making mockery of the traffic rules and are least bothered about the results of rash driving. But they alone are not the wrongdoer; parents of such drivers are the whole-sole perpetrators who allow their wards to drive without driving license and violate rules.
This is a serious issue and needs proper attention. I strongly believe that parents who allow their children to drive without helmets and proper driving license are the main culprits. Moreover, Traffic Police needs to implement the laws strictly.
D.P Singh (Raju),
Jammu.
