In an attempt to sensitise a teenager accused of repeatedly breaking traffic rules, the Juvenile Justice Board in Chennai ordered him to regulate the city traffic for 16 hours over the weekend. The boy, who is studying in a school in Pulianthope, had knocked a woman down while riding a bike in January, said news reports.
Though the woman escaped with minor injuries, she filed a case with the Pulianthope police. Upon inquiry, it was found that the bike belonged to the boy’s friend and that the boy did not have a driving license when the accident happened.
As the case came up for hearing on Friday, the boy appeared in the court and sought pardon from the court. He also told the court that he would not engage in such practices in the future. The court, taking note of the apology, ordered the boy to man traffic at a junction, with the help of the traffic police.
“Accordingly, the boy was asked to be present at the Ega theatre junction from 8 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm to learn the traffic rules,” a traffic policeman told Deccan Chronicle.
He also added that the boy narrated his past incident to the motorists and advised them not to violate the traffic rules and to wear helmets while driving. Wearing a fluorescent orange vest, the boy stood at the Ega Theatre junction on Saturday, regulating the traffic and doling out traffic-related advice to the motorists at the signal.
The Madras High court has repeatedly expressed its disappointment over the government inaction in implementing the helmet and the seatbelt rule. In Tamil Nadu, it is mandatory for the rider as well as the pillion rider on motorcycles to wear a helmet. Similarly, it is mandatory to wear seatbelts while driving a car.