Nagpur court convicts 26 parents for letting minors drive

Handing vehicles to minors on Nagpur's roads is proving costly for parents. City traffic police have stepped up action against parents and vehicle owners over the growing practice. Of the cases the traffic department registered in 2026, a court has convicted the accused in 26 of them.

In every case where the accused was convicted, a fine of 30,000 rupees in total was imposed. The driver's license was also affected, with the court ordering it cancelled for 12 months or the person disqualified from driving. In terms of the punishment, a fine of 25,000 rupees was imposed under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, while Section 199(4) led to a 12-month license cancellation or disqualification. Together, up to 30,000 rupees was recovered in each case.

Traffic police are continuing the drive to curb road accidents and keep vehicle keys out of minors' hands. The focus is not limited to underage drivers alone, but also on bringing parents and vehicle owners who allow their children to drive within the ambit of the law.

Parents often let children ride two-wheelers or other vehicles to cover short distances, go to the market or run small errands. Keys are also sometimes handed over to satisfy a child's insistence or on the pretext of teaching them to drive. Police have said this kind of negligence poses a major risk not just to the child's life but to others on the road. Minors do not hold valid driving licenses, and the physical and mental maturity required is not fully developed at a young age, increasing the chance of errors in sudden situations, at high speed, while braking or while turning. This is why responsibility is being fixed on parents.

Police say holding only the child responsible when a minor drives is not enough; the role of the parent or owner who made the vehicle available is equally important, which is why legal action is being taken against them too. The aim is not merely to punish but to send the message that handing a minor the keys is serious negligence that can endanger the lives of the child and other innocent people in the event of an accident.

To control road accidents in the city, the traffic department is keeping a close watch on underage drivers on routes leading to schools and colleges, major intersections and busy roads. The department believes police action alone is not enough, and that parents, school administrations and society also need to participate. The traffic department has made clear that strict action will continue against parents and owners who let minors drive, and has appealed to citizens not to hand over the keys of motorcycles, scooters or any motor vehicle to their minor children.