Drama on the road

Your leader "Drama on the road" (December 1) raised some very valid points and reminded me of others. Less than a fortnight ago, you also carried a news feature in which it was stated that "the authorities" are considering taking legal action against an elderly man for having jay-walked at some locality which I do not recollect. That incident had led to the death of a young motorcyclist who had tried to avoid hitting the man.

My intention is far from condoning irresponsible jay-walking but one thing amazed me. It also did when this fatal accident took place early in September.

Much was said about it in the papers, and many were the verbal comments bandied about. Yet, nobody asked what was an underage, unlicensed and uninsured youngster doing riding a motorcycle on the road? I do not claim to have read all that regular columnists write in the papers I read but in the 10 days I was still in Malta after that September accident I could see nothing in print highlighting this far from rare occurrence. For all I know something was written during my absence but in the three weeks since my return I have not seen anything, not even after that news about the possible arraignment of the elderly person who allegedly caused the accident.

I honestly think that this problem of unlicensed underage drivers is far more widespread than most would like to admit. Years ago I could see how a colleague's family were distraught when the youngest child was killed on his own doorstep by a youngster "losing control" of his father's car or whatever it was. When was it that following another fatal accident a distraught father (and well he should have been) "piteously" admitted he "only" let his son drive the delivery van on the outskirts of the village? Was it not on television that one evening another distraught parent appealed for information as to who had caused his (unlicensed, underage) son's death... when he knew his son drove the car on a regular basis with his tacit consent?

What about non-fatal cases when parents have covered up for their erring offspring by saying that they (usually the father) were at the wheel? This happens when there are no people around except those involved in the accident, before the police turn up and with the collusion of the injured party who otherwise would have no recourse to insurance compensation.

Certainly, the loss of a young life is tragic and lamentable. Yet if the young person could be remotely excused for being rash and immature, I have no pity for wailing parents who cause their own children's death by being too complacent accomplices in these illegalities. As usual few ever consider the rights and feelings of the victims, of those who are bereaved and maimed for life thanks to the criminally irresponsible behaviour and attitude of those who cannot keep in check their offspring's obsession to get behind a driving wheel before they are of legal age.