After sharing a lot of other road safety related threads, today one member arhum1994 asked to talk about the the subject matter. I was thinking about it for a very long time.
Anyways the matter don't need any lectures as its understood. The problem is when we know about the problem and its adverse effects and still don't take any action or do something about it.. the problem gets a menace. "Underage driving" is literally without any single thought is the worst thing on the road. It is as dangerous as a driving intoxicated. I am sure we all see this happening around us , I would rather say within our own homes and families and we don't talk about it. We come across these stories when a underage driver took over the driving seat and crashed it. Injured or killed anyone.
[I]Why do such cases keep happening? Who is responsible? What is the solution?
[/I]Children are more reckless and careless by nature. They are not mature enough to understand the consequences of their actions or mistakes. For them, driving is all about thrill and looking cool. Speeding around seems cool to teenagers. It is generally acknowledged that the greatest risk of traffic crashes is among teenage drivers. Teenage drivers are a threat not only to themselves but also to others.They either injure or kill themselves or others . Children are impatient and have a shorter attention span due to their hormones, they drive fast, rash and their reflexes are not as sharp as the reflexes of the adults. That's why everywhere in the world there is a certain driving age limit to get license. We have same in Pakistan as well, sadly its violated so openly.
I would not like to be judgmental here, but it is very unfortunate that this is happening in the educated and better class of society. I can bet if you go and stand in front of a school, you will see a lot of these kids driving their cars with driver sitting in the back seat or passenger seat. Well I have even seen parents sitting next to them. In case of accidents these parents either try to use their influence or pay some money and get out of it very easily. What we are teaching our kids with such actions?
I sincerely feel that wherever minors are involved in any accident, their parents need to be made accountable. I am sure you will agree that it is the parents who encourage their kids. They proudly announce that their 12 or 14-year-old can drive a car.This is pathetic.
Please look around your homes, in your streets, within your family and social circle in your own homes. Please take a step for safety of our kids and others. Parents should discourage this act. Parents are feeling happy for their underage kid driving but this action can result killing someone else kid or bread winner. Being a parent myself, I also feel proud of achievements of my son, but there are certain things which need a proper time and age. Parents should discourage this activity altogether, No matter if they are sitting next to them in car. This is BIG NO!.
Parents should make sure if their kids go outside with their drivers, they don't pressurize the poor driver and MUST NOT get hold of keys. If we see anyone in our surroundings, we should stop them and make a complaint to their parents.
Removing these underage drivers from the roads doesn't mean that accidents will stop happening but it will surely reduce the number of accidents and make our roads safer.
I have added a poll on top of this thread (Did you start driving underage and without license?) Make sure you click your choice and please don't lie. lets collect some statistics.Poll is visible via phone browser or on computer only. Not via app
