Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Nov 25: As authorities continue their crackdown on underage and unlicensed drivers across Srinagar, the Traffic Police today organized a counseling session for parents of minors caught violating traffic laws.
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Scores of parents gathered at the SSP Traffic’s office, where senior officers, including SSP Traffic City Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, addressed them.
The officers urged parents to act responsibly and not allow their minor wards to operate two-wheelers or four-wheelers.
“You must take a stand against this; otherwise, you are risking your children’s lives. I have seen many parents who were previously counseled, but their wards were later caught violating the law again-one of them even died in a tragic accident,” the SSP told the gathering.
He emphasized that allowing minors or unlicensed individuals to operate vehicles not only reflects poorly on parental responsibility but also endangers pedestrians’ lives.
“It took the tragic Tengpora accident for us as a society to wake up. This issue should have been addressed long ago,” he said.
The parents present acknowledged their mistakes and pledged to ensure that their children would not have unauthorized access to vehicles.
Many even requested a one-time pardon; however, they were informed that the challans had already been submitted to court, and the final authority rested there.
“It is a mistake on our part, and we must enforce strict measures in this regard-not just for ourselves but for public safety,” said Bashir Ahmad, one of the parents.
A minor girl fined for riding a two-wheeler without a license admitted to the SSP that she did so to avoid the “uncomfortable” commute on local transport.
In response, the SSP stated that this was no justification for driving without a license.
He highlighted that the introduction of red buses in Srinagar was aimed at easing daily commutes. “Additionally, we have a dedicated helpline, 103-if anything happens, we are just a call away,” he said.
Another parent raised concerns about delays applicants face after obtaining learner’s licenses and the long wait to book slots for driving tests.
The SSP assured them that he would take up the matter with the concerned authorities.
During the session, the SSP also showcased a picture of a child, seemingly around 12 years old, riding a two-wheeler with a man, apparently his father, seated behind him.
“It describes the height of carelessness and sheer irresponsibility on the part of the elders,” he said.
Speaking exclusively to ‘Excelsior’, SSP Traffic City said he was not focused on the number of challans issued or vehicles seized.
“Our focus remains on making commutes in Srinagar hassle-free and reducing accidents,” he said.
He noted that significant awareness about underage driving had been generated over the past ten days, with public discourse increasing on the issue.
The SSP stressed the importance of parental support in addressing the issue, which, he said, has been lacking.
“We want parents to act responsibly. What we aim to achieve is only possible when all sections of society play their part,” he said.
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