15-year-old drives car, crashes into vehicle; mother’s response sparks outrage

NOIDA: A mother’s response defending her minor son after he allegedly crashed a car has sparked controversy. A video purportedly showing the incident in Noida has gone viral on social media. According to local residents, the 15-year-old was driving the car when it collided with another vehicle, following which he allegedly attempted to flee the spot.

The video shows damage to the front of the car. Local residents intervened and stopped the vehicle. It has also been alleged that a child was seated in the front seat of the car at the time of the accident. However, this could not be independently confirmed from the visuals.
The boy’s mother, who arrived after learning about the incident, drew criticism for appearing to defend her son. In the video, she says she had asked her son to drive the car for some errands as the regular driver was on leave.

When asked about her son’s age and whether he had a driving licence, both the mother and the boy acknowledged that he did not have one.
People at the spot can be heard asking that the incident be reported to the police. However, it remains unclear whether a complaint was filed or whether police registered a case.

The mother’s response in the video has drawn strong criticism. Several people said her approach appeared to disregard the seriousness of the accident and pointed out that the consequences could have been much more severe had it resulted in a serious accident.

Under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, a guardian or vehicle owner can be held responsible when a juvenile commits an offence under the Act. The law presumes that the juvenile used the vehicle with the consent of the guardian or owner.
If found guilty under the provision, the guardian or vehicle owner can face imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of ₹25,000. The registration of the vehicle used in the offence can also be cancelled for 12 months. In addition, the juvenile will be ineligible to obtain a driving or learner’s licence until attaining the age of 25.