Odisha cracks down on underage driving

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Commerce and Transport Department has intensified its campaign against underage driving, asking schools and coaching centres to ensure that minors do not drive vehicles to their campuses.
Under the month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, running from September 17 to October 17, transport officials have been directed to identify educational institutions where underage driving is frequently reported and obtain written undertakings from their authorities.
The initiative covers RTOs in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar-I and II, Balasore, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Berhampur, along with the Khurda ARTO.
Officials said institutions will have to report cases where parents provide vehicles to their minor children. Violations may result in heavy fines, vehicle seizure, cancellation of registration and legal action against the parents.

The department said young drivers are more vulnerable to accidents because of inexperience and risky behaviour, including speeding, jumping signals, using mobile phones and failing to wear seat belts.
As part of the awareness drive, schools and coaching centres will organise road-safety activities, including slogan and painting competitions for students of Classes VIII to X. Special programmes will also focus on safe commuting and road crossing near educational institutions located along highways.
Meanwhile, following the death of nine passengers in a bus fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida on September 23, the department has ordered safety training for bus drivers and conductors at major bus stands across Odisha.
Transport officials will train them on emergency evacuation procedures, while bus owners will be encouraged to install essential fire-safety equipment to deal with emergencies.