Hyderabad Police Propose Negative Marks for Students Caught Driving Underage
On June 20, 2026, the Hyderabad police proposed that local schools award negative marks to students caught driving underage. The proposal comes in response to a sharp rise in traffic violations, with 2,539 underage driving cases recorded in the city between January and May of this year.
During a stakeholder meeting on 'School Student Road Safety' on Friday, officials announced a zero-tolerance policy to address the growing concern of minors operating vehicles on city roads.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar stated that the police will directly report minor driving violations to the respective school administrations. The department is urging school managements to implement the negative marks system to instil regulatory discipline among students.
In addition to academic penalties, authorities warned of severe legal consequences for both minors and their parents. Hyderabad Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Joel Davis revealed that 719 vehicle registration certificates have already been suspended for 12 months this year after juveniles were caught driving.
Under the current regulations, minors caught driving will be legally barred from obtaining a driving licence until they turn 25 years old.
Parents or guardians who allow minors to drive also face strict prosecution. Joel Davis warned that parents could face a jail term of up to three years and a financial penalty of up to Rs 25,000.
The strict measures follow a traffic police study highlighting the dangers of underage driving. Between January 1 and May 31, 2026, the city recorded 141 fatal accidents, 86 accidents causing grievous injuries, and 1,377 accidents resulting in minor injuries.
Among the casualties, 128 children under the age of 18 were victims of road accidents. This included seven children who died, four who suffered grievous injuries, and 117 who sustained minor injuries.
The police noted that road traffic injuries have become the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged between 5 and 19 years.
To improve safety, the police urged two-wheeler riders to ensure only two people travel on a vehicle and that both wear helmets, noting that 94 percent of children who died in two-wheeler accidents were not wearing helmets.
