From license ban up to 25 years old to cancellation of vehicle registration, underage drivers will face tougher penalties from June 1

CHENNAI: Minors caught driving will result in the cancellation of the registration of the vehicle involved, a penalty of Rs 25,000 and a ban on obtaining a driving license until the age of 25, i.e. seven years later. the legal age to obtain it.

This special focus on cracking down on underage driving is part of new regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act that are expected to come into force from June 1, a report in Daily Thanthi said.

The move is in response to growing concern across the country, including in Tamil Nadu, over increasing accidents involving underage drivers.

Apart from various awareness activities undertaken and safety measures implemented to prevent such cases, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also amended the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 to impose stricter penalties which would discourage parents and guardians from allowing minors to drive vehicles.

Among other changes, there is the condition that only the vehicle owner can claim compensation in the event of an accident involving a minor or an unauthorized driver.