There is a need for having traffic wardens either voluntarily by NGOs and authorised by authorities or giving part-time employment to selected and trained individuals. The corruption so wide spread in traffic department has to be ruthlessly dealt. Instead of periodical 'Helmet checking TAMASHA' what is required is concentrated checking in the crowded areas like markets, school/college gates, gatherings of political natures, pravachans, marriage celebrations etc would be more effective. Mobile courts, summary disposal of traffic cases, paying of fines on-line on receipt of notice from authorities etc can be introduced to keep pace with the traffic cases load. Above all it requires a will for action by the traffic police and other concerned authorities. Nobody, how so ever well connected, should be let off for traffic offences.

Subodh Shrivastava: It will not be wrong to say that this is a speed-age. Everybody is running to his destination as fast as possible. The whole scenario from the time of the bullock cart and bicycle has been changed, Now, there are a variety of motor-driven vehicles which attain vigorous speeds in seconds.

Most 16's are students who are set to make their careers. To secure good marks in regular exams and achieve success in professional course examinations, students join coaching classes. They have to run from one coaching class to another at different places on a single day. Due to distances it is difficult for students to attend college, come home, and then go to attend coaching classes at one place or two on time.

Bus or taxi could be the easily available conveyance, but whereas first means takes much time, the other takes money. So they have to use bicycles, mopeds or bikes. Bicycles are good for short distances, but they develop fatigue if used for long distances. So student will not be left with energy to study in the evening. With other motor-driven vehicles

(scooters, bikes etc), driving licence is required.

It is therefore that the qualifying age of motor driven licence be brought down to 16. This will benefit the RTO as well as the students who go to distant places for coaching. Though to amend the rule will be easy, but to control these little drivers will be a challenge.

Learning to drive vehicle properly and basic knowledge of traffic rules is also important.

Moreover to follow the traffic rules is a must without which there would be chaos. Most people have two-wheelers, so the 16's can have guidance from their parents, elders about how to drive. So they can be given licence. Moreover, to curb misuse of the facility, the 16's may be given licence to drive on routes to their college, coaching classes and home only.

SN Patra: Yes, only bonafide students of 16 and above attending +2 classes and also coaching (inevitable for the entrance examinations) may be given driving licence for two-wheelers `with gear.' The driving test, physical standards including fitness should be as stringent as in the USA.

At present any person above the age of 16 is eligible for riding `gearless two-wheelers' only. Such two-wheelers are no better than improvised bicycles. Many students have lost their lives in Scooty/Hero Puch accidents. These toys are powered by 50cc only which cannot pull one person even safely especially on hilly roads as in Bhopal.

You may drop the word `gearless' from the MV Act-section and add +2 students attending coaching classes eligible for a driving licence for two-wheelers with gear (viz Kinetic Honda/Activa, Splendour, Hero Honda and other fuel efficient but also powerful two-wheelers which are in fact safe, if not used for acrobatics, serpentine and reckless riding.)

Thus, you can prevent the prevalent guilt-conscience among 16+ riding either without a licence or procuring one furnishing proof of enhanced age.

Manisha Gupta: Definitely not! You don't want to compound the already existing problems on the road? Do you? As it is we have enough variety of everything, right from rash driving to drunken driving to violent driving to wrong driving to callous driving. What more do you want? When the so called mature people, older than 18 years, of this country, can't drive properly, lowering the qualifying age of motor driving licence to 16 will only add to the woes. You wouldn't want to add to the innumerable hit & run cases that flood our already unsafe roads.

Just read in the papers about a 27 year old in Noida, driving with such callousness, over-speeding, overtaking vehicles wrongly, finally hitting a youth on a motorbike from behind and as if that was not enough, dragging the victim for more than 300 metres, killing him. And the driver doesn't even seem to have realized his folly. Two more cases reported next to this news have a truck driver hitting from behind and killing a man while an overspeeding crane killed a man crossing the road in the Delhi-Noida region. Utter negligent driving.

Neither would you want to add to the cases of boys and girls getting themselves killed in the prime of their youth just because of lack of maturity and sobriety needed to control a vehicle. Driving licence is not a licence to be brash. It is to empower for ease in commuting. But one should have the maturity. And maturity does come with age. In fact instead of thinking of reducing the age to 16, how about hiking it up to 20? Probably that will save many lives from their tragic premature end!

SS Chitwadgi: Yes, bring driving age to 16 because by 16 our youngsters sufficiently mature. One sees now with no licence few drive at 16. This is irregular, yet one finds at 16 youngsters driving there home motors. Then why not reduce to 16 to meet the situation. Our elders generally at their 16 never had the opportunity because elders at that age were most really not developed to handle driving. Now, at 16 one finds youngsters with modern life equipped with mobiles TV etc are wiser, bolder and full of general knowledge. This knowledge comes on observations. Intelligence level is developed so much so that everyday life provides means to understand, practice and avoid anticipating miseries in driving motors. It is Therefore, necessary to bring down driving licence age to 16.

Shivani: What's in news nowadays? Accidents due to careless driving of motorbikes on streets, mostly by youngsters. The reason behind is the adventure they want to feel and make others feel by racing on the roads.

At such a younger age they are not capable to think before they act so can not only harm themselves but also others on the roads. So, the idea of bringing down the qualifying age of motor driving licence to 16 is similar to that of making them an authorized lord of deaths. Previously the under 18 champs might think twice before breaking traffic rules but now they will be licensed as the adventurous attitude of this age can't be abated.

Rajat Abhinav: Today's world is youth's world which constitutes about 50% of total population having more IQ level than previous generation. They are smarter, intelligent. Earlier, it was considered that person attains maturity at the age of 18 only so it was made compulsory to obtain a driving licence at this age. Keeping in mind the socio-economic conditions prevalent then, it was a right decision.

But there is a paradigm shift in every walk of life today. The concept of composite family has almost vanished now. Majority of the family today is of nuclear nature. Parents don't have time for their wards as both parents may be working. So dropping of their wards for school and tuition is a time consuming affair for them.

If age for driving is reduced from current 18 to 16 then it will kill two birds with one stone. First, reducing dependency on parents for dropping at schools/tuitions. Secondly, they can also help their parents in daily household chores. Also it will give them freedom with a sense of responsibility. They will learn basics of life early, making them responsible citizens.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had identified the potential of the youth quite early. He knew the youth could work wonders if they get chance. So he reduced the voting age from 21 to 18. The only problem resulting from reducing age for driving licence is there will be considerable increase in the number of vehicles. But for this fear one should not hold back the progress of the youngsters.

Dr Visal A Khan: In UK, you can drive a moped with an engine size of no more than 50cc at age sixteen but this can only be done once you have acquired your provisional driving licence and have also undertaken Compulsory Basic Training Certificate. For motorcycles the age limit rises to seventeen with certificate. For some motorcycles and those with sidecars the age limit is twenty-one and you must have taken and passed the test for larger weight motorcycles as laid down in the Direct Access Scheme.

In case of car driving you must be no younger than seventeen. You can apply for your provisional driving licence on or shortly before your seventeenth birthday. If you receive your provisional licence before your seventeenth birthday you will still not be eligible by law to begin driving until after the date of that birthday. Vehicles such as Quad Bikes would fall under this title and a person may apply for a provisional licence to ride such a machine when they reach the age of seventeen.

Similarly in India too, I think it's time for a change in the law on driving age limits. I believe that not only should alcohol access be restricted by age but also the possession of a driving licence, just by this change in the law alone we could reduce the likelihood of drink-driving offences, speed related accidents and injuries to innocents. It's time to sweep the idiots off the roads and bracket their driving experience into an age-group that might be better suited temperamentally, intellectually and physically to controlling their vehicles and observing the law.

Krishna Chander Mouli: With so many types of two wheelers and four wheelers in the market these days a rethinking on the qualifying age for a driving licence seems necessary so that unlicenced teenagers driving on the road exposing themselves and the society to danger is checked. The higher the number of gearless, low HP, sleek and trendy models of two-wheelers and Maruti 800s and Nano type four-wheelers the larger is the scope and need of bringing down the qualifying age for issuing driving licence.

Teenagers by nature have a habit of indulging in adventure and with so many choices before them they defy the law and are seen on road not only riding on two-wheelers alone but also with pillion riders. Similar is the case with four-wheelers too. These teenagers do not confine themselves to their streets and colonies. They come out on the highways and in the absence of proper training, experience and legal authority to drive often end up in an accident, serious injury sometimes fatal. Unlicenced and untrained driving on the road invites tragic accidednts. There have been any number of accidents these days wherein teen agers drove the vehicles and had exposed themselves adventureously to all types of risks to their lives. Such mis-adventures are not desirable. Yet day in and day out we find teenagers resorting to this misadventure. This is more commonly seen in affluent families and those enjoying clout and power since they can afford such misadvenbture and still escape from punishment.

It is therefore better to legalise teenagers driving by reducing the qualifying age for issuing a driving licence to l6 years after proper training. This may still not reduce the accident rate but there will at least be satisfaction that the teenage drivers on road are not illegal, untrained and are well aware of and exposed to the hazards.

Bhupinder Kaur: I will not indulge in technicalities or legalities. I would prefer personal and straightforward example. I have two sons, Savvy and Arpan . Savvy is 16 year old and Arpan is fourteen and half. Whenever, in emergency, I have to do pillion riding with my sons, I feel safer than when my husband drives the bike. Though I don't drive myself but I have become a good judge of driving skill. My younger son drives even more safely than my elder son. It is not only driving, even in other skills like computer operating, repairing minor electric faults and organizing a party for guests etc my husband seeks the services and innovative ideas of my sons. They help us out when we get stuck, whatever be the problem.

Now, do I need give any other justification for my sons (below eighteen) getting licenses for driving? When I say 'my sons' it means all teenagers of this age, I mean, sixteen. So, I entreat our govt to bring down qualifying age of motor driving license to sixteen.

Frt Sumit Dhanraj: The qualifying age of motor driving licence should not be brought down because if the driving age is reduced to 16 from that of 18, there may be many chances of accidents taking place on the roads. Young teenagers in the global scenario of the advanced world are more prone to give to mundane lifestyle habits and so are not very cautious while driving or riding. Youth of present culture are mostly addicted to alcohol, smoking, drugs, etc. They don't realize the value of precious life that is given to them by God, through their parents. These sorts of habits and addiction to seek pleasure may sometimes lead to road accidents and loose life in mishaps.

Notwithstanding, this type of circumstance, parents ignore of what can happen to these budding children often tend to make them ride or drive in busy streets of cities and towns.

Sometimes parents send their children shopping but the children may not know driving properly. Though, it may seem like a joyful moment in the life of parents to see their child drive, unlike other children who may not be driving due to many others reasons. If parents will understand this concept then hopefully they will try to look into their child's security and safety. It is the duty of every parent to check and control their child who drinks and drives on roads just because of wrong company of their friend circle or ones own personal problems.

Even if the driving age is reduced to 16 from that of 18, I think incidents of mishaps may not stop unless and until children, youngsters, youths, adults, & elders learn to drive appropriately. So, instead of thinking to bringing down the qualifying age of motor driving license to 16, let us think of bringing quality in our driving styles.

Jaskaran Singh Dhami: I very strongly feel that the govt. should bring down the qualifying age of motor driving license to 16. By this age motor development is at its peak. Child, nay, youngster at this age masters the skills very fast. His reflexes, which are vital for driving, are very quick.

Many studies have established the fact that maturity dawns (physical as well as mental) much earlier than it used to be in the past. There is no reason than denying the children, nay, youngsters of 16 years the right to drive.

There is no dearth of examples of the youngsters of this age who have proved that by this age they 'come of age'. Don't we know that many youngsters of this age have made their place in the cricket teams of their countries? Not only cricket but in other sports events too they have rubbed shoulders with the 'seniors'. Here I am not talking about junior teams (like 'under 16' or 'under 18' teams). The youngsters of this age become computer wizards, music wizards and what not. Many youngsters of this age have made their presence felt even in the field of literature.

Don't we know about youngsters of this age becoming fathers or mothers (though I do not approve of it)? What I'm trying to bring home is that by this age a youngster can do all those things especially associated with motor and sensory skills as effectively as adults, why can't we allow them to be on roads with their bikes or even cars? After all, they will be given license only after passing driving test. Yes, driving test can be made more efficient or we can even design a special driving test for 16 year olds to ensure that only deserving youngsters get licenses. We can also make it compulsory in schools to study road safety instructions and traffic rules etc.

Presently though licenses are not given to youngsters below 18 years but it is an open secret that youngsters below 18 do drive bikes and cars. On road they can not concentrate on driving because they have to be very vigilant so that they do not catch the eyes of traffic police and get into trouble. This makes them more prone to accidents. Moreover in our country getting fake licenses is not very difficult. If we lower the age of motor driving license to 16 these problems will also subside.

In the USA the 16th birthday is called sweet sixteen. It is the age at which a person can get a US driver's license, and some wealthier (which most of them are) parents give their youngsters a car as a present. Gone are the days when we rated Americans higher than us. Our new generation is in no way inferior to that of US or be it any other country. The need is to change the mindset. I fully support the view that qualifying age of motor driving license should be 'solah baras ki' I mean sixteen, yes, 'sweet sixteen'.

RK Kutty: I find this question quite irrelevant in the fast changing scenario. Even now when the qualifying age limit of motor driving licence is 18 years, little children of 14-15 years are already taking the risk of driving not only two-wheelers but also four-wheelers under the care and guidance of their parents. Parents want their kids to immediately start riding two/four wheelers the moment they hardly learn to walk. This is strange as they know not they themselves are putting the lives of their children in great danger at their own cost.

The most genuine reason one may oppose this proposal is that now when the whole world is passing through fuel crisis like situation and the possibility of finding alternate energy, even if some invention on battery or hydrogen driven two/wheelers would come through, but at the moment already we are faced with the problem of crammed roads, choked traffic conditions, much polluted atmosphere and the rate of accident always on the increase, if we consider bringing down qualifying age of motor driving licence to 16, it would only add up to these problems.

We should instead try to find out solution as to how we can reduce such problems and for that we should think on the other way round. Agreed that it is the time of speed and everyone wants to fly, even before learning to walk, there might be a growing demand for such reduction in age limit. This would only help the automobile industry to produce more bikes and other modern two wheelers for the young ones and even toddlers to play with it at great imperilment/risk of road accidents. Young blood is always prone to high speed and now at least when the age limit is 18 for driving licence, law enforcing agencies can act against the violators. It is suggested that we should instead encourage children to ride bicycle, up to the age of 20-21 years that would make them strong and healthy to face the hard realities of life ahead.

RK Gupta: Crude oil price in the international market is rising rapidly. India produces only 40% of the oil of its need and rest 60% it imports from the oil producing countries. In other words the country is going to face a big crisis of the crude oil shortage in the near future.

There would be no wonder if the crude oil price touches $200 a barrel also. For building a nation in general there needs a hard work and sacrifice can only help in achieving 10% growth rate in GDP. But, the irony of the situation is that the nation is consuming oil mindlessly. New automobiles are being launched practically everyday. Indian roads are not fit for heavy traffic, everywhere there are old and damaged roads. Road accidents are very common, precious lives are lost all over the country every day.

Driving licences are issued to only adults who are 18 years of age or above. India is a country where the rule of law prevails. It is not very easy to change the driving licence law from 18 to 16. Respect for laws are desired from every citizen of the country.

In spite of so many laws, the minors are driving automobiles in large numbers with no objections from their parents/guardians also. In my opinion only those who are 18 or above should be given driving licence. This law is quite right in its place. After all crude oil is a precious commodity and should be used carefully and judiciously.

Frt Jeevan Ganawa SVD: Yes, of course the qualifying age of motor driving licence should be brought down to 16 in this world of change. As it is said, "Life is movement," so also movement or renewal should be brought in driving, rules & regulations regarding driving, and license per se. In the highly advanced machinery system of traveling when one has excess to driving and well developed motors then why to waste time and money, opportunity, and privileges that modern industrialization is providing us. It is better to drive than not to drive.

If RTO increases the age limits of driving license to 16 than it will not only help adults but also youngsters to utilize their time properly. The work load that people have these days will easily become lighter through the usefulness of motors which will give traveling facilities. People will undertake more tasks of accomplishment rather than wasting the precious time in which we can do something worthwhile. Children can help their parents in shopping; students can reach their schools and colleges faster than before; officers working in technocrat world can be in time by reaching faster; ladies can independently do their household duties; etc. etc...

But one must not forget to keep the traffic rules while driving on the roads; especially to take care of signals, sign boards on the road corners, suitable symbols & signs while driving, appropriate slow driving, and taking extra precaution in maintenance of vehicle and oneself.

If the age limit is reduced, the productivity of work management will enhance the lifestyle of people. Young children and youth will be able to take care of things by themselves and staand on their own legs without depending on others. This will increase self-confidence, self-reliance and progressiveness in lives of people. Thus, license age should be reduced to16 as per the needs of the present time.

Syed Zia Ul Hasan Naqvi: Long back there was a time when vehicle was regarded a luxury and a symbol of pomp and show but nowadays with the change of time it has become a necessity for every individual so there is no harm in bringing down qualifying age of motor driving licence to sixteen. Subject to the conditions that at this age of sixteen persons should be well versed with traffic rules and should be fully trained in driving vehicle.

By the age of sixteen physically a person is in position to drive a vehicle easily like an adult but in this age of sixteen usually the persons are very daring and irresponsible, they least bother for the consequences. There is every possibility of rash driving by them. Parent satisfaction is essential, while they are allowing them for taking motor licence. Apart from this traffic personnels should be Argus eyed on these persons. In case if they are found violating traffic rule then their licence should be immediately cancelled.

At this age of sixteen students are really in need of vehicle because of their hectic routine. In this age students usually go to their colleges or coaching classes at very distant places hence vehicle is a must for them. In case licence is not granted to them mostly they drive vehicles without licence and that is more risky. With the public transport punctuality of time is very difficult so granting license to these persons is very essential.

RJ Khurana: No, never. Already there is plenty of mayhem on the Indian roads because of irresponsible driving. By licencing those attaining the age of 16, the state will be further complicating the situation. The number of motor vehicles on our roads has increased by leaps and bounds.

The infrastructure is extremely poor. It becomes worse during the rainy season when the road shoulders become weak and the danger of skidding increases manifold. . An overwhelming majority of motor vehicle drivers violate the safety rules with gay abandon. The policemen instead of taking action against the rule breakers look the other way. They plead helplessness in the face of political interference. Under these circumstances the 16 year olds who like the thrill of racing cannot be issued licences. The other day speaking at the funeral of a 20 year old scooter rider who was killed in a road accident driving at 0200 hrs, one of the tearful parents who had lost a young son in an accident pleaded with the rest not to allow their children to ride late in the evenings and ride madly as they were not mature enough to understand the vagaries of our roads and weakness of other traffic infrastructure and prone to be recklessness.