Rotary Club Organises Thrissur Car Rally Against Underage Driving

A road safety awareness car rally was organised in Thrissur on Sunday to highlight the urgent need to curb underage driving across the State and to mark ‘Keralapiravi’.

The Rotary Club of Thrissur West conducted the initiative under the theme “Safe Roads for a Prosperous Keralam: Say No to Minor Driving.” The campaign aimed to sensitise parents and the public to the dangerous trend of minors getting behind the wheel.

The concern has gained importance amid a series of recent fatal accidents across the State, according to the organisers. The awareness drive therefore focused on the role of parents in preventing minors from driving vehicles.

Rally flagged off from Swaraj Round

The rally was flagged off from Thekke Gopura Nada at Swaraj Round by K. Nandakumar, Inspector of police, Thrissur East police station. M. Harindran, sub-inspector, traffic enforcement, was present at the flag-off.

Rotary assistant governor Vishnu Hari and district director K.B. Rajagopal also attended the programme.

Speakers at the meeting stressed that handing over vehicle keys to minors poses a risk to human life and carries stringent legal penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act. They urged parents to act responsibly and wait until youth attain 18 years of age and receive formal, certified driving instruction.

The rally featured vehicles decorated with road safety placards and awareness banners. It concluded at the Poomala hill station, near Thrissur.

Organisers said the event saw enthusiastic participation from Rotary Club members and the public. They described the participation as making the awareness drive a resounding success.

Source: The Hindu