Road safety is a major concern in Pakistan, where hundreds of thousands of accidents occur each year. Many of these incidents involve teenage drivers who are not legally permitted to drive. Underage driving has become a severe problem in Pakistan, with many young individuals putting their lives and the lives of others at danger by driving before they are legally permitted to.
In Pakistan, the legal driving age is 18 years old. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon to see children as young as 12 years old driving vehicles or riding motorbikes on the streets. This is a troubling trend since it endangers their safety as well as the safety of other drivers and pedestrians on the road.
Are parents to blame?
The absence of effective enforcement of traffic regulations is one of the primary causes of underage driving in Pakistan. Many young kids are permitted to drive by their parents, who may not have adequate driving licenses or awareness of road safety. The absence of road safety enforcement and education makes it simpler for young individuals to obtain and operate automobiles without the requisite training or legal papers.
How old do you think this child is driving a car on main Clifton Road. When I asked the traffic sergeant posted at teen talwar to stop him. He replied, "we have stopped him many times. He doesn't listen." @trafficpolice_k pic.twitter.com/ewvszIoJgJ
— Zahid F. Ebrahim (@zfebrahim) February 19, 2023
Additionally, among young people, driving a vehicle or motorbike is seen as a mark of prestige and freedom. As a result of this view, there has been an upsurge in the number of young individuals attempting to learn to drive. They frequently disregard the reality that they are endangering their own and others’ lives by driving without a valid license.
The absence of public transport fuels this issue
The absence of public transit is another issue that exacerbates the problem of underage driving in Pakistan. Many young people who need to commute to school or job must rely on motorbikes or other private cars, which forces them to learn to drive at an early age. This is frequently done without sufficient training, which can result in traffic accidents.
Underage driving can have disastrous effects. Inexperienced teenage drivers are more prone to cause traffic accidents that result in damage or death. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, over 13,000 people die in road accidents in Pakistan each year, with a high proportion of these deaths involving young drivers.
To address the issue of underage driving, both the government and the general population must work together. The government must aggressively enforce traffic regulations, and parents must take responsibility for their children’s safety by ensuring that they do not operate a vehicle until they are legally permitted to do so. Furthermore, more investment in public transit is needed to minimize the number of young people who are compelled to rely on private automobiles to move about.
In conclusion, a lack of appropriate enforcement of traffic regulations and education about road safety has resulted in an increase in the number of young individuals driving without a license, endangering their own and others’ lives. It is time for the government and the general people to take action to protect our young by stopping them from driving before they are legally able to. Not only will this save lives, but it will also foster a safer and more responsible driving culture in Pakistan.
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