Responsible driving requires maturity and life experience; the ability to assess situations and risk, and the ability to solve problems in a split-second. - NSTP file pic
Responsible driving requires maturity and life experience; the ability to assess situations and risk, and the ability to solve problems in a split-second. - NSTP file pic

IT takes a special kind of skill set to drive in Malaysia. Potholes and jaywalkers aside, one also has to keep an eye out for those who persist in driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication that causes drowsiness, those phoning or texting, and those driving against the flow of traffic.

Truly, some Malaysian drivers act as if traffic laws do not apply to them. Will there come a day when such drivers are phased out? Not if irresponsible parents continue to have their way.

On Friday, a Road Transport Department (RTD) deputy director-general reported that 55,000 offences were recorded in the first five months of the year involving vehicles driven by those without a valid driving licence. Most of the offences involved parents allowing underage children to drive.

It is mind-boggling enough that some Malaysian parents allow their children to ride basikal lajak (modified bicycles with no brakes), which, together with the activity largely taking place in the middle of the night, put their children's lives at great risk. It is a whole other level of carelessness for parents to let their underage children drive what are potentially huge, heavy, and fast killing machines.

But if some adult drivers themselves do not have the discipline to observe driving and traffic rules that are designed to keep everyone on the road safe, it really shouldn't be surprising that some adults are recklessly passing on the same disregard for the law to their children.

Some might argue that some children have to grow up faster and have to shoulder more responsibilities. That is true of many children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

But that is no excuse for allowing them to drive cars or ride motorcycles without a licence. Parents that let their children drive without a licence are teaching them that it's okay to break the law whenever it is convenient.

It is not easy bringing up children well and keeping them safe. Even so, parents must try. Responsible driving requires maturity and life experience; the ability to assess situations and risk, and the ability to solve problems in a split-second.

These are skills that need to be honed and do not necessarily come with age; but being very young does put a person at a disadvantage. And even though some countries have a younger driving age than Malaysia, the drivers still have to learn the road rules, take driving lessons, pass a driving test, and get a driver's permit before they are allowed to drive on public roads.

Underage and unlicensed drivers invalidate any insurance contract, and if anything happens, they are neither protected by insurance nor by the law. But of course, we shouldn't expect all children to understand this and gladly comply.

That is what the adults are for — to apply tough love. And the law should do the same to such parents. At the moment, the penalty for letting someone drive one's vehicle without a licence is a maximum fine of RM3,000 or imprisonment for up to three months, or both.

That is hardly adequate in these circumstances. Parents who allow their underage and unlicensed children to drive should be charged with child endangerment, too. If the parents aren't looking out for the children, society and law enforcement must step in.