Chennai, July 31: Four-year-old Kathiresh is just another toy-savvy
toddler except the for the fact that while his friends play
with fake cars, Kathiresh drives the real thing.
Studying in lower Kinder Garden in southern Chennai,
the child has taken a fascination for driving at the age of
three and half years, claims his father.
"Three months before, out of his own interest he told
me he wants to drive. Next day onwards I started training
him. On the 29th day he started driving just like any other
experienced driver. He can drive anywhere or everywhere
without anybody's help," said Vijaykumar, father of
Kathiresh.
With four hours of training everyday, Keethresh can
today drive at a speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43.5
miles per hour) and can continuously drive for 32
kilometres (approximately 20), adds his father.
Although his son's talent gives a great sense of pride
to Vijaykumar, but Indian law d s not allow anyone below
the age of 18 years to drive around.
"The act says that no one drives without proper driving
licenses - that license age is fixed by the Government of
India. So no one else should drive on the public roads. The
act only talks about the public road and d s not bothers
driving in private roads," said Shanmugasundaram, Regional
Transport Officer, Chennai.
Having Formula-1 legend Narain Karthikeyan in mind,
Keethresh talks of becoming a car racer, if not a pilot.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, July 31, 2006, 00:00