Parents unable to restrain children from driving should sell their vehicles, says Keralam Transport Minister
C.P. John says that children alone cannot be held entirely responsible in this matter as it is the parents’ duty to exercise control over them; he says State government is considering introduction of a ‘flexible timing’ system for private buses amid rise in incidents of overspeeding
Keralam Transport Minister C.P. John on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) called for stringent action against parents who allow minors to drive vehicles. Parents who fail to restrain their children from driving should even consider selling their vehicles, he said during a public function in Thrissur.
Mentioning the rising number of accidents involving vehicles driven by minors, he said that it is the responsibility of parents to keep their wards in check.
Mr. John also noted that children alone cannot be held entirely responsible in this matter as it is the parents’ duty to exercise control over them. There is no need for vehicles in the homes of such people if they are unable to restrain their minor children, he added.
Mr. John’s remarks come against the backdrop of the growing concerns over a spate of reckless and drunk driving incidents involving young motorists in Keralam.
Regarding the issue of overspeeding of private buses, the Minister said the current scheduling system is a primary cause of overspeeding. The State government is considering the introduction of a ‘flexible timing’ system for private buses. Currently, private buses are allotted only two-and-a-half minutes to cover a distance of one kilometre.
In places like Kochi and Kannur, it is impossible to cover such a distance within this timeframe, and heavy traffic congestion further disrupts their schedules. Given this situation, a ‘flexible timing’ will be introduced following consultations with officials from the Transport department, the Minister added.
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