Kerala to cancel driving licence of negligent parents

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala motor vehicles department is planning to cancel driving licences of vehicle owners who leave children in parked cars. Last month, a toddler was saved by police after they found him in a locked car.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) is planning to cancel driving licences of vehicle owners/drivers who leave children in parked cars. The decision came in the wake of many such incidents coming to the attention of authorities.

Last month a kindergarten student was rescued by the police and fire force personnel after they found him in a locked car struggling to breathe.

The child’s grandfather forgot to drop him back home after picking him from the school. Two children and their mother were rescued from a locked car in Kochi last week after they developed breathlessness and fatigue. At least 14 such cases were reported in the state in the last six months.

“Usually people leave children inside the car with window glasses rolled up thinking they can get back immediately. But at times they take enough time posing a grave danger to those locked inside the car. This has to be stopped,” said a senior officer of the MVD. He said if the child was left inside the car with airconditioner on there was also a chance of gas leaking into the car from the AC duct , endangering the child’s life.

The circular issued by the state transport commissioner S Ananthakrishnan on Tuesday, sought strict action against those offenders including cancellation of their driving licenses. The circular also detailed various other scenarios that could prove dangerous.

The child could release the handbrake or change gears which could lead to accidents, it said. Also, chances of vehicle theft are high in such cases,it went on. Driving schools will also be given instructions to provide lessons in their courses against this practice.

Usually people leave children inside the car with window glasses rolled up thinking they can get back immediately. But at times they take enough time posing a grave danger to those locked inside the car. This has to be stopped SENIOR MVD OFFICER,