KOLKATA: Underage driving is on an alarming rise in the city and, in most cases, this risky behaviour is being encouraged by parents, a study has found.At least 50% of the children surveyed admitted that they drive two-wheelers and cars on city roads unsupervised. While most parents surveyed denied allowing their children to drive independently, two out of three admitted that their kids learnt driving from them.The facts came up in the study by SaveLIFE Foundation conducted to understand knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of people in Kolkata with respect to road safety.While most parents don’t mind spending lakhs to admit their children to a good school, they were found to be reluctant to spend a few thousand on a child seat or child restraint system (CRS).Nationally, over half the parents were unwilling to sped extra to ensure their children’s safety while travelling in car and, in Kolkata, nine out of 10 were unwilling to buy the safety seat. Several car dealers that TOI spoke to said they had never sold a kid’s safety seat, nor were they approached by any parent for one.The one redeeming statistic was on two-wheelers. Four out of five parents in the city now own helmets for their children. Sources said compliance had shot up after several schools decided not to allow children in if they were found to be riding without helmets on bikes and scooters.Although one out of six respondents said they were aware and use the rear seat belt, TOI did not find a single passenger using it. A study that Maruti-Suzuki had carried out a couple of years ago had similarly found that rear seat belt compliance was zero in Kolkata. In another study carried out by Ford India, one in 25 respondents in Kolkata had claimed they weren’t even aware that it was mandatory to wear seat belts while riding in a car.According to WHO, a seat belt reduces the risk of fatal injury by 50% for front-seat occupants in case of an accident. For passengers in the rear seat, it can lower fatalities by as much as 75%. Officials at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the largest manufacturer of cars, say seat belts can prevent 80% of fatalities, with airbags making the crucial difference in 10% cases.

Stay updated with all the Kolkata Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.