RAWALPINDI: The City Traffic Police took action against 418 underage drivers, impounded 145 vehicles besides registering FIRs against 76 youngsters during the ongoing crackdown.

To ensure the safety of motorbike riders, 235 riders who were not wearing helmets while driving were also issued tickets.

A police spokesman said on the orders of the additional inspector general traffic Punjab, Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Rawalpindi Taimoor Khan visited various highways and reviewed the ongoing crackdown and gave instructions to circle officers and field staff to take strict action against violators in the light of the orders issued by Lahore High Court.

Following the deaths of six members of a family in Lahore when an underage driver crashed his car into their vehicle, the LHC directed the police to launch a crackdown against underage drivers across the province.

The City Traffic Police Rawalpindi took action against 418 underage drivers and impounded 145 vehicles/motorcycles on Sunday besides registering FIRs against 76 underage drivers.

Tickets were issued to 235 people who did not wear helmets while driving motorcycles and they were also briefed about the importance of helmets.

Action was taken against 356 smoke-emitting vehicles and 13 of them were impounded in police stations after their fitness certificates were suspended by the relevant departments.

The CTO appealed to parents not to allow their underage children to drive a car or motorcycle under any circumstances so that the lives of all road users could be made safer.

It has become a common practice that whenever any tragedy occurs the concerned government or other authorities swing into action and launch a crackdown.

Otherwise, they pay no heed to underage driving, smoke emitting vehicles, overloading and other traffic violations.

“There would be no need for such a crackdown by the police and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) if they perform their duty with dedication and commitment,” a road user told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2023