New Delhi: As many as 1.62 lakh road accidents were caused by underage drivers and those without licences between 2012 and 2014, the government on Monday said.


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Accidents caused by drivers without licences during the period was 1.01 lakh, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.


He said under-age drivers, below 18 years old, caused 0.60 lakh accidents in the three years.


"Section 180 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both for the offence of a owner or persons in-charge of vehicle permitting an unlicensed person or under-aged person to drive it," the minister said.


Section 181 of the Act provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both for the offence of driving by an under-aged person, he added.


He said though the enforcement of various provisions of the Act including driving by underage and unlicensed drivers come within the purview of the state governments, the ministry has been carrying out awareness campaigns on this issue through print and electronic media.


India accounts for 5 lakh road accidents a year, one of the highest globally in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives.