The Goan Network
PANAJI
The recent circular issued by the Union ministry of road transport to Goa’s transport department to ensure that those below 18 years don’t drive vehicles above 50 cc engine capacity may not be practical as there are no vehicles of this kind available in Goa’s market or elsewhere in India.
This begs a question as to which vehicles can be driven by individuals less than 18 years. The law does allow people in 16-18 age group to drive vehicles, but with less engine displacement.
Section 4 of ‘The Motor Vehicles Act’ of the central government provides that individuals between the age of 16 and 18 can drive a motorcycle with engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc.
However, in Goa and across other parts of India too, people much younger than 18 years drive all sorts of cars and bikes at high speeds, which results in causalities. It is in this context that the latest circular should be seen as it is aimed at getting an age-old rule implemented.
The circular might be in the right direction, but the market reality is different wherein none of the leading two-wheeler manufactures have anything of 50 cc or less in their product portfolio in India.
Paresh Thaly, managing partner, Thaly TVS, said, “We don’t have any vehicle of less than 50 cc. Scooty Pep is the lightest scooter we have which is of 90 cc. We have a moped called TVS XL 100, which is of 100 cc.”
TVS used to have a moped called TVS XL Super, which had 70 cc capacity, but it has been discontinued. None of the other manufacturers, Bajaj, Honda, Yamaha or Mahindra make vehicles of less than 50 cc capacity.
Vinay Kunkolienkar from Goa Rajee, an authorised dealer of Honda said, “Honda does not have a vehicle of 50 cc or less capacity in India. However, we realise that there is a need for young students to have a lighter vehicle, which helps them in commuting to school or to tuition classes. Therefore, we have made the company aware that there is a need to have a vehicle of less than 50 cc capacity.”
In nutshell, even if the law allows 16 to 18 year olds to drive motorcycles of 50 cc or less, they aren’t going to find any such product in the market.
