Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 12: A 15-year-old boy, who is mentally challenged, crashed the car of the President of National Commission for Safai Karmacharis into a compound wall on Saturday night.

The incident happened at the office of the Commission in Sampangirama Nagar. The boy was the son of the security guard, whose family stayed in the premises.

President of the Commission, M R Venkatesh said that the officials after parking the cars, keep keys in the office. The boy, who noticed this, took the keys and tried driving the car but rammed into a compound wall and the cars parked nearby.

Thankfully no one was hurt, says Venkatesh. The Wilson Garden police have registered a case against the boy and his father.

Parents, vehicles owners responsible for road accidents caused by minors

With underage motorists increasing in Bengaluru, the Home Department has issued a circular to all police stations to deal with the issue seriously.

Charge sheets will be filed against parents, vehicle owners over road accidents caused by underage riders or drivers.

Of the 2,140 rash driving cases registered from January to August this year by Bengaluru Traffic Police, 1,340 cases were registered against minors. Police have prosecuted parents and owners of vehicles. Around 6,174 cases have been booked against parents/vehicle owners until August 2017.

The circular highlights that minors driving without licence are risking the lives of people on roads. The life insurance companies do not compensate the families of the deceased or those injured when the rider, driver is a minor. Hence, the issue needs to be addressed with seriousness.