Odisha’s STA cracks down on underage driving following surge in road deaths

Bhubaneswar, July 29: On Monday, the Odisha State Transport Authority (STA) launched a two-day special initiative aimed at curbing underage driving, in response to a troubling increase in road accidents and fatalities.

In 2023, Odisha saw 557 road accident fatalities, with 224 of those victims under the age of 18. In light of these figures, the STA has directed Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to enforce stricter measures under Section 199 (A) of the Motor Vehicles Act, emphasizing the urgent need to address this growing issue.

The STA's instructions mandate that the RTOs conduct a rigorous enforcement campaign over the next two days. Officials are required to fully implement Section 199 (A) of the MV Act, detaining vehicles driven by minors and filing FIRs against the guardians or owners of these vehicles at the relevant police stations.

Additionally, the STA has called on senior officials to actively educate and raise awareness among juveniles about the severe consequences of road accidents.