June 13, 2007	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1428

KHANEWAL, June 12: City roads have become racing tracks for underage rickshaw drivers and traffic police have not taken any action against them.

Dawn learnt there were about 1,000 motorcycle rickshaws plying in Khanewal, Mianchannu, Kabirwala and Jahanian.

Of 1,000 rickshaws, 150 to 200 are being driven by drivers aged 14 to 17 years of age who have no driving licence.

Most of the underage drivers ply their rickshaws on main city routes. In Khanewal, Girls’ College Road, Jamia Mosque Road, Ayub Road, Tea Chowk, Niazi Chowk, Civil Lines, SSP Office Road, Station Chowk, Lahore Morr, Jahanian Road, Farooq-e-Azam Road, Kot Alla Singh Road and Jannat Road are favourite places for underage drivers for racing.

Their races create traffic congestion and sometimes end up in accidents.

“Petty accidents by minor drivers have now become a routine in the city and it will never end until traffic police take action against the practice,” says Shahzad Hussain, social activist. According to rules people under 18 are not eligible for driving.

Rickshaw Driver Muhammad Yousuf said even though poverty had driven the minors to take up driving profession, the practice should be stopped as it endangered commuter’s life.

Traffic Deputy Superintendent of Police Chaudhry Sajjad said traffic police were already facing a shortage of staff.

He said driving by minors was just because of the poverty and a lack of education and resources. He said police would soon launch a move to curb the practice.