Recently, in Kawardha and Ambikapur of Chhattisgarh, 12th-grade students were seen performing dangerous stunts with high-speed cars and tractors. The students entered the school premises riding Scorpios and bikes and even performed stunts in the school ground after their farewell party. Videos of the incident have gone viral on social media.
This is not an isolated incident; such reckless stunts by young students are becoming increasingly common across the country. A new trend has emerged in society where youth engage in high-speed stunt driving, race on public roads, and perform life-threatening tricks just to gain attention on social media. The bigger concern is that these stunts are no longer limited to roads but are now happening even in school and college campuses.
The question arises—who is responsible for this growing menace? Is it merely the recklessness and over-enthusiasm of young people, or is there a deeper social issue behind it?
The Rising Trend of Dangerous Stunts
Social media has played a significant role in motivating youngsters to perform stunts that not only endanger their lives but also pose a threat to others. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts encourage viral content, and in their quest for likes and views, many young people put their lives at risk.
In many cases, teenagers take their parents’ expensive cars out for a spin and start performing dangerous stunts in an attempt to look ‘cool.’ High-speed driving, bike wheelies, car drifting, and performing risky maneuvers on open trucks and tractors have now become a common sight.
Why Are Youngsters Attracted to Stunts?
1. The Pressure of Social Media
In today’s digital age, being ‘viral’ is often equated with success. Young people want their videos to trend, gain followers, and achieve instant fame. In this race for online validation, they do not hesitate to take extreme risks.
2. Influence of Movies and Web Series
Stunt scenes in Bollywood and Hollywood movies greatly fascinate youngsters. Seeing actors perform thrilling bike and car stunts, many young people try to replicate them in real life, not realizing that movie stunts are executed under expert supervision.
3. Parental Negligence
In many cases, parents provide their children with expensive and high-speed vehicles without monitoring how they are being used. Some parents even encourage such reckless behavior to make their children appear ‘cool’ among their peers.
4. Weak Law Enforcement
Police and administrative authorities often fail to take strict action against such incidents. In many cases, children from influential families are let off without punishment, reducing the fear of legal consequences.
5. Peer Pressure and Group Culture
Youngsters often engage in stunts under peer pressure. They feel compelled to prove themselves in their friend circles and indulge in dangerous activities to maintain their image.
What Does the Law Say?
In India, performing stunts on public roads is a legal offense. According to the Motor Vehicles Act, reckless driving and dangerous stunts can result in severe penalties.
•Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act states that rash driving can lead to a fine between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000 and imprisonment for six months to one year.
•If a stunt results in injury or death, Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) can be applied, which deals with negligent homicide.
Despite these legal provisions, the real issue is the lack of proper enforcement.
The Role of Society and Authorities
1. Parental Responsibility
Parents must educate their children about responsible driving and the dangers of reckless stunts. They need to monitor their children’s online activities and ensure they are not getting influenced by harmful social media trends.
2. The Role of Schools and Colleges
Educational institutions must implement strict regulations to prevent such incidents within their premises. Schools should conduct awareness programs about road safety and the dangers of stunts.
3. Police and Administrative Actions
Law enforcement agencies should adopt a stricter approach to handling stunt-related incidents. Instead of being mere spectators, the police must take action against offenders, irrespective of their social status.
4. Responsibility of Social Media Platforms
Social media companies should ensure that dangerous stunt videos do not get promoted. Strict guidelines should be implemented to block or remove content that encourages risky behavior.
The growing trend of stunt culture among youth is a serious concern. It is not just a risk to their own lives but also poses a significant threat to public safety. Parents, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, and social media platforms must work together to curb this menace.
It is natural for young people to seek adventure and excitement, but when this thrill-seeking turns life-threatening, it must be controlled. As responsible citizens, we must ensure that roads remain a means of transport and not a playground for dangerous stunts. Until society and authorities take collective action, such incidents will continue to occur, putting innocent lives at risk.
( Rajiv Khare National Deputy Editor)
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