Underage driving: Around 400 young offenders busted

Violators were let go after families’ assurances of keeping them away from driving

SUKKUR: Approximately 400 young offenders were arrested and then released by the Sukkur police during the crackdown against underage drivers in the city, which started two days ago.

The offenders were kept at the police station till their families submitted written assurances to the police that they will not drive motorcycles or rickshaws till they reach the legal age to drive.

The crackdown started on several complaints against underage drivers by the citizens and media persons. Around 400 underage drivers, all boys, were arrested from different parts of the city and the police seized their motorcycles.

The families of the underage drivers gathered outside different police stations to bail them out.

However, the relevant SHOs refused to let them in till they submitted written assurances that these boys will not be allowed to drive motorcycles till they reach the legal age.

Underage drivers not only put their own lives in danger, but of others as well, said Sukkur SSP Amjad Ahmed Shaikh. “We are already facing traffic problems in Sukkur because of narrow roads and underage drivers add to the problem,” he remarked.

Speaking about the ways to discourage underage drivers, Shaikh said parents should keep a vigilant eye on their children and not allow them to drive.

“We have launched this campaign to stop underage drivers and it will continue till underage youths are discouraged from driving,” he said.

He also warned the citizens to stop their children from driving otherwise the law will take its course.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2016.