Underage driving, non-adherence to helmet rule back in focus after death of a man in accident in Puducherry

The recent death of a 52-year-old person in an accident has once again brought to fore the dangers of motor vehicles being driven by underage children and riding of two-wheelers without wearing a helmet in Puducherry.

Early this month, a family of three travelling in a scooter along Ambedkar Salai near Uppalam was hit by a high-performance sports bike ridden by a minor. Varadaraj, 52, who was riding the scooter sustained head injuries while two others who were travelling with him suffered bruises. 

Mr. Varadaraj, after receiving initial treatment at the Puducherry Government General Hospital, was shifted later to a private healthcare facility in Chennai. Despite the efforts of the doctors at the private hospital, he succumbed to his injuries a few days ago. His death has now prompted the police to alter the criminal sections charged against the minor boy from 125(a) and 281 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, to sections 281 and 106(1) of the BNS, 2023. 

Police said the rider of the high-end motorcycle was only 17 years of age and was driving the vehicle in a rash and negligent manner when the accident occurred. The minor has been arrayed as the first accused (Juvenile in Conflict with Law) and his mother, the registered owner of the motorcycle, as second accused for allegedly permitting her minor son to ride the vehicle.

“The tragic incident highlights how irresponsible decisions by parents and vehicle owners in allowing their minor wards to ride motor vehicles could result in devastating and irreversible consequences. The accident could have been averted if the minor was not permitted to ride the bike. Further, wearing a protective helmet could have significantly reduced the risk of fatal head injuries and might have saved the victim’s precious life,” Senior Superintendent of Police D. Divya said.

She further said the incident served as a painful reminder that both responsible parental supervision and strict adherence to basic road safety measures were essential to prevent avoidable loss of life. Parents and vehicle owners should recognise that handing over a vehicle to a minor could have grave legal consequences and might result in preventable accidents, permanent disabilities and loss of precious lives, Ms. Divya pointed out. 

Concurring with the views of the police officer on the need to follow traffic rules, Additional Professor and Head, Department of Neurosurgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Manoranjitha Kumari Mani said adhering to road safety rules for protecting lives was a collective responsibility. Road discipline, adherence to traffic rules, responsible driving and respect for traffic police must become an integral part of commuting culture, she added.

“In India, approximately 19 individuals die every hour due to road traffic injuries, with head injuries accounting for a substantial proportion of these deaths. In Puducherry, data indicate that 15 out of every 100 patients admitted with head injuries die in hospital. In severe cases, even those who survive may never regain their pre-injury functional status. Much of the sufferings could be prevented by wearing a good quality helmet with the chin strip securely fastened, both for rider and pillion rider,” the doctor said.

Advising road users to follow traffic rules for their personal and common good, the SSP said stern action would be initiated against violators. The minors involved in traffic offences would be strictly dealt with under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and owners of the vehicle would be made liable for the crime in accordance with the law, she added.