Youngsters performing daredevil stunts on Ahmedabad city roads have become a headache for Ahmedabad police. Heart-pounding stunts have seen a significant surge in the first quarter of 2024. Now the police are mulling cancelling the driving licence of such violators.
Last year, the RTO received a whopping 777 recommendations for licence suspension due to reckless driving antics.
The department revoked 617 licences, but the numbers continue to skyrocket. In just the first three months of 2024, the department has received 369 recommendations – nearly half of last year’s total and an average of four cases every day.
Regional Transport Officer (Ahmedabad) JJ Patel pointed out that young drivers, aged 18 to 25, frequently pushed the boundaries, particularly with nighttime joyrides becoming a trend.
“There’s a noticeable rise in vehicle registrations at both Ahmedabad and Bavla RTOs. And interestingly, a large portion of these vehicle owners fall within the 18 to 25 age bracket,” Patel said, adding, “Speeding and reckless driving, especially at night, has become somewhat of a craze among youngsters,” Patel adds.
It’s not just the thrill but also the desire for validation through likes and comments on social media reels that have fuelled this trend. A senior police officer said, “The obsession with making reels has led to a rise in such stunts. To garner attention, especially from the younger generation, people are resorting to all sorts of risky behaviour that puts public safety at risk.”
Areas like Sindhu Bhavan Road, SG Road, and the BRTS corridor have become hotspots where youngsters indulge in perilous stunts.
“The youngsters are usually accompanied by someone who shoots the stunts. Some use cameras mounted on helmets or dash cameras to record the acts. We are cracking down hard on such stunts and closely monitoring social media channels,” revealed another traffic officer.
The Ahmedabad RTO carries out frequent drives in collaboration with the traffic department, says Patel, adding: “We even join the special drives undertaken by the city police.” However, the traffic officer says the RTO provides hearings for those involved, and if a satisfactory explanation is provided, suspension may be avoided. “Of 1,146 cases reviewed, 25 were cleared of involvement in reckless driving incidents. Those whose licences were suspended also include people who were drunk while driving.”
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