The void created in the lives of parents and other family members due to the death of a youngster in a road accident can never be filled and it will continue to haunt them for the rest of their lives. Minors and those who take to the streets on bikes, without proper training and a driving licence, stand a risk of getting involved in accidents.
This was the feeling expressed by Police Commissioner B. Shivadhar Reddy at a counselling programme for minor drivers, organised by the city traffic police, here on Monday. Asking the minors and their parents not to get offended for being summoned by the police, he said the objective of the programme was only to create awareness among the target group. The perceived thrill of driving at breakneck speed and innocence coupled with overconfidence was often making youngsters to give safe driving practices a go-by.
Quoting statistics, Mr. Shivadhar Reddy said that it was unfortunate that 60 per cent to 70 per cent of road accident deaths involved young persons in the 15 – 35 age group. He warned that minors, irrespective of their driving experience, should not drive.
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Even those over 18 years of age, have to do ‘defensive driving’. He advised parents not to allow their minor children to drive motorcycles or cars. Parents should not promise to give their minor children motorcycles, if they pass with good marks in SSC or Intermediate.
They could think of other safer options like good books or a trip to Singapore as a direct flight has been launched recently. This could motivate them to study better.
Srinivasa Rao, a private employee, said that his son had passed 10 class recently and he had sent him to the nearby drug store to fetch some medicines. He admitted that it was wrong to have given him the bike. D. Appa Rao of Aganampudi echoed similar feelings.
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“The counselling programmes will be an eye-opener to youngsters who take to the roads on bikes, ignoring the warnings of their elders,” said an elderly woman from Gajuwaka. She, however, admitted that she had given the bike to her son as she was ‘overjoyed’ at his success in the recent SSC examination.
Mr. Shivadhar Reddy cautioned motorists against ‘drink driving’ as it would reduce the reaction time and result in accidents. The influence of alcohol would be there for about 12 hours and even those who consume alcohol late in the night shouldn’t drive vehicles the next morning.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Suresh Babu gave a video presentation on minor getting involved in road accidents in the city.
Traffic Inspector D. Rajeswara Rao was present.