A TRAGIC incident occurred in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area in which two boys on a motorcycle were killed by a 17-year-old underage, unlicenced driver. The news sent shockwaves throughout the community. It was yet another stark reminder to one and all of the consequences of negligence and the lack of accountability regarding underage drivers.

Parents and guardians should exercise stricter supervision over their children’s driving habits. It is imperative that we, as a society, reinforce the importance of adhering to traffic laws, and understand the dire implications of allowing unlicenced minors to operate vehicles.

The role of parents in this regard cannot be overstated. They must ensure that their children understand the gravity of driving without a licence and the potential harm it can cause to themselves and others.

Furthermore, it is essential that justice is served to the victims of this tragedy. Their families deserve closure and the reassurance that the law will take its course without prejudice. The enforcement of stringent penalties for underage driving and the violation of traffic regulations is crucial in deterring such incidents in the future.

We need to actively advocate the enforcement of existing laws pertaining to underage driving. It is only through collective effort and awareness that we can hope to prevent such needless loss of life, and uphold the safety of our roads.

M. Abid Hafeez
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2024