The car accident in Dubai on Monday, wherein an 18-year-old lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a group of eight students, killing four of them and injuring the remaining four, has led to a heart-wrenching, irreparable loss of bright, promising young lives. The incident is also a grim reminder of the potential dangers of driving among youth who have recently acquired a driving licence. This aspect was highlighted by the Dubai Traffic Police who urged greater parental control over children who are new drivers.
The thrill of having acquired a driving licence and finally earned the right to take to the wheel often leads many teenagers to throw precaution and driving discipline to the wind. These young drivers need to be tempered and guided by parental supervision till the latter are assured of their child’s ability to be restrained behind the wheel. And this can happen only after a reasonable amount of time has been spent by parents accompanying their wards on the road. This is a critical responsibility that will ensure that not only does their child have the ability to stay safe, he will also not endanger the lives of others on the road.
