One day imprisonment was awarded this month to 4 parents for allowing their minor children to drive.

Hyderabad : One day imprisonment was awarded this month to 4 parents for allowing their minor children to drive. Traffic police have now started asking the courts to award imprisonment to the parents of the young offenders and to send the youngsters themselves to juvenile homes if required. Several major accidents have been caused because minors have been driving.

The courts have also decided to send the underage drivers to juvenile homes if they repeat the offence. In recent past two accidents have pushed the police to become more strict. In one case where 14 year old was driving a vehicle and trying to overtake a lorry, 12 year old pillion rider fell down and crushed under a lorry.

Two minors were killed and one injured in another case, when the bike they had taken for a joy ride skidded off the road in Humayun Nagar. “We have been charge sheeting those less than 18 years of age and their parents along with the owner of the vehicle for Minor Driving. The courts have been awarding imprisonment to the parents in recent days. Minor driving have become rampant in the city”, said DCP Traffic A V Rangnath. He further said in case they repeat the offence minors will be sent to juvenile homes and the parents will be imprisoned.

“If the parents allow their kids to drive it is their mistake. We started concentrating on the parents. Its high time we start blaming parents because minors have no right to kill others on the roads.”said the police official.