‘Curbing underage driving a shared responsibility’

With the mounting traffic load in the federal capital, Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has tightened its belt to penalise violators to streamline smooth traffic flow and ensure the safety of residents.

Robust enforcement strategies have been implemented with increased fines and registration of FIRs for serious violations, particularly involving underage driving as this phenomenon has recently emerged as a serious issue.

Taking note of the gravity of this issue, the ITP embarked on rigorous enforcement of traffic rules, penalising thousands of violators by imposing fines and impounding motorbikes. These measures have shown some positive results as statistics reveal a decline in violations.

It has been reported that 38,000 fewer violation cases were registered in October and November 2023 than in the same period last year.

However, this should not be a one-sided story, instead, it should be considered a shared responsibility of all citizens. While the police play their part, the parents and guardians of underage drivers must also ensure that these children do not take to the roads as it endangers their own and others’ lives.

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"Under-age driving is a serious issue," remarked Islamabad Chief Traffic Officer, Muhammad Sarfraz Virk. "A significant portion (65%) of traffic violations are attributed to amateur drivers. We recently witnessed a few lethal accidents as a result of underage driving."

"But, we are diligently focusing on this area," he added, revealing that during 2023, the authorities actively registered FIRs against underage drivers, impounding over 35,000 motorbikes and seizing 17,000 vehicles that were involved in various violations.

"We also contacted their parents, asked them to submit affidavits to ensure and sought their cooperation to impose discipline at homes to ensure that this practice is not repeated," he said.

"Although sense of responsibility is improving among drivers, there is still a lot to be done," he remarked. "I would especially advise parents not to be swayed by the love for their children. It may land them and their children in serious trouble."

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2023