A video of a dare-devil stunt performed by a minor on the Mandrem road which has gone viral has sent shockwaves among the netizens. The boy was riding the bike at full speed without wearing a helmet veering around the vehicles moving on the road. He could have put his life and those of others at risk. The incident has brought to the fore the fact that minors still drive vehicles on the roads thereby violating the traffic rules. Several youngsters have lost lives because of reckless driving. Even if one has a two-wheeler insurance, the insurance cannot be claimed in the event a minor meets with an accident. No matter how strict the laws are, it is the responsibility of the parents to keep an eye on the activities of their child. It is learnt that the traffic police have imposed a penalty of Rs 47,000 on the parents as the teenager violated multiple traffic rules and was riding recklessly on Mandrem road. Under Section 181 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, if the owner of a vehicle allows a minor to drive a vehicle, the owner can face up to three months of imprisonment, a fine or both. It seems that only a punishment of imprisonment will deter parents from allowing their minor child from driving a vehicle.
