Sir,

Apropos the news item “First, age check… then petrol !” (Star of Mysore dated Feb. 3), it is definitely not a wise and practical solution to curb the minors from driving vehicles.

It may not be possible to judge the age of a person by merely looking at his face or at his physique. Minors will definitely find ways and means to hoodwink the petrol bunk employees and get their tank filled.

By instructing the fuel stations to decline fuel to the vehicles driven by minors and to penalise the bunk owners if fuel is supplied to minors is definitely not practical and can invite unnecessary and unwarranted legal complications. This instruction may not be legally tenable.

Minors can be easily apprehended if all the Traffic Police posted at signals or at junctions are more vigilant. These Cops, instead of sitting idle either inside the traffic umbrella or on their vehicles, can capture and upload the photos of the suspected minors and drivers committing other traffic violations, to the Police WhatsApp number.

Also by posting Police and RTO personnel near PU Colleges and in the vicinity of roadside eateries, minor drivers can be easily apprehended.

The instructions by the Deputy Commissioner to refuse parking space for vehicles driven by minor students is definitely a better option than asking for age proof of the riders by the fuel station employees. No doubt, number of minors driving vehicles without licence and without helmet are on the rise and it needs to be curbed with more practical and stringent approach.

– K. Chandrahas, Mysuru, 4.2.2021

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