The Lahore High Court has barred the Punjab Inspector General of Police from immediately arresting underage drivers.
According to reports, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum of the Lahore High Court took notice of the arrests of minors for violating traffic laws.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum remarked that an awareness campaign should first be conducted regarding underage drivers. She said that children riding motorcycles or driving cars for the first time should be given a warning, and that repeat violations should be dealt with according to the law.
It is worth noting that a large-scale crackdown against traffic violations and underage driving took place yesterday on the special orders of the Chief Traffic Officer of Gujranwala.
At various locations in Nowshera Virkan and at the main intersection, traffic wardens set up checkpoints and took action against underage drivers and riders without helmets.
According to local media, dozens of motorcyclists were arrested for driving without a license, without a helmet, or being underage, while many motorcycles were also confiscated.
Wardens clarified that underage driving is not only illegal but that parental negligence is a major cause of accidents. After the crackdown, large crowds of parents and the public gathered outside the Nowshera Virkan police station, where citizens pleaded with the police to release their underage children and retrieve their motorcycles.
According to the traffic wardens, this campaign is intended to protect citizens’ lives, and parents have been urged not to allow underage children to ride motorcycles. They warned that in case of violations, cases may also be registered against the parents of underage drivers.
