Srinagar, Nov 18: Jammu and Kashmir government has launched a massive crackdown against underage driving and seized over 1000 two-wheelers in Srinagar alone.
This follows the deadly road accident in which two minor students were killed in Tengpora. The incident prompted the traffic department to launch a massive drive against the minors driving two-wheelers.
In the past three days, over 1000 vehicles, the majority of them two-wheelers—bikes and scooties—have been seized by the traffic department.
“It is always painful to see young lives being lost on the road due to reckless driving. One thing we have noticed is that parents are supporting their children who are not even 18 yet and they drive two-wheelers and scooties,” Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Srinagar Muzaffar Ahmed told reporters.
He said that parents’ support in curbing the minor driving vehicles is of utmost importance. “To bring down the number of accidents, we need full support from the parents. We seized many two-wheelers and also counseled the minors by calling their parents as well. At the maximum, we can seize almost 500 two-wheelers a day that are driven by the youngsters without license,” he said.
The SSP said that without parental support, traffic police can’t do much. Official sources told KINS that in the past four days, over 1000 vehicles have been seized and challaned as well. “They were run by minors without license. The drive will continue,” they said.
As per the tentative figures available from the traffic department, at least 500 lives are consumed by traffic roads every year in Kashmir alone. “The figure includes the accidents that take place in rural areas, highways, and the national highways,” he said.
Sources said that the traffic cops deployed at vital points have been directed to counsel the minors driving two-wheelers. “We can’t slap or thrash these young kids. They need to be counseled properly.
Earlier on Saturday, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Kashmir Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari, conducted a robust enforcement drive across the Kashmir Division. The operation targeted key violations, including vehicles lacking fitness certificates, overloading, seat belt non-compliance, underage driving, and other breaches of the Motor Vehicles Act, of 1988.
During the drive, 2,338 vehicles—comprising buses, school buses, goods carriers, and private vehicles—were inspected. Out of these, 586 vehicles were challaned for violations such as driving without helmets and seat belts, overloading, and lapses in fitness and insurance certificates. Additionally, 11 vehicles were seized, and fines totaling ₹7.98 lakh were imposed.
The enforcement covered multiple districts, including Srinagar, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kulgam, and Ganderbal. Srinagar recorded the highest collection of fines at ₹2.22 lakh, with Kulgam and Ganderbal also seeing significant actions against violators.
RTO Syed Shahnawaz Bukhari called on community leaders, religious figures, and educators to join the effort by spreading awareness about traffic rules and road safety. He stressed the importance of collaboration to foster a culture of responsibility and compliance.
The Motor Vehicles Department urged citizens to adhere to traffic regulations, emphasizing the need to create safer roads for everyone in the region.
This tempo will last for few days only as we know the pavements are always occupied by vendors then police make a raid for couple of days thereafter vendors occupy the same positions with comfort because of inaction of police, same thing will also happen here