A video has been doing the rounds on social media showing a young child steering a Mahindra Thar on a bustling Bengaluru street in a shocking incident that has stirred controversy and raised serious concerns about road safety.
The gravity of the situation prompted journalist Sagay Raj P to bring attention to this alarming traffic violation near the MG Road Metro station. The video, posted on X, shows a child sitting on the lap of an adult as he steers through the bustling traffic.
The user took to social media on Monday tagging the city’s police department and the Joint Commissioner of Police along with the license plate number, urging action.
“Dear sir, witnessed a clear violation near MG Road Metro station – a child behind the wheel driving a car. @BlrCityPolice @Jointcptraffic,” he wrote with the video.
The video sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with users expressing a mix of outrage and attempts to rationalize the incident. One user defended the man's actions, stating, “He was not behind the wheel but on his father’s lap, holding on to the steering wheel… One who has kids will relate to what is happening there.”
“There is no violation, it’s a common sense that a child leg can’t reach the clutch/brakes he is just holding a steering and its common,” another wrote.
However, dissenting voices compared the scene to George Orwell's dystopian novel '1984' and raised concerns about a recurring issue on Bengaluru-Mysore expressway. One user emphasized the need for legal consequences, stating, “Need a criminal sectional for this type of violation. And parents require consulting a good doctor.”
“Ridiculous. Happening in CBD. No concern for road safety. Please confiscate the vehicle and arrest the parent. That will instil confidence in general public,” wrote another.
While Bengaluru Police did not respond to the tweet, one resident and X user shared an unverified, undated picture with the car and its owner being slapped a fine. Moneycontrol cannot independently verify the action taken.
This incident follows a similar case from August last year, where a car owner faced fines from Bengaluru police for a traffic violation captured in a viral video. The video depicted the driver reversing his Maruti Suzuki Baleno after entering the opposite lane to bypass a queue of vehicles stuck in a traffic jam.
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