The Kwara State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oladayo Ademoluti, has urged affluent politicians, parents and guardians to always discourage their young ones from driving when they have not attained the age permissible to handle steering by the law.

Speaking at a sensitisation programme, entitled: "The effects of road traffic crashes on youth", to mark the National Youth Day celebration in Ilorin, the FRSC boss said the measure would go a long way to reduce underage driving and its attendant consequences.

"Youths are sometimes ignorant of traffic rules and regulations and due to their adolescent and care- free attitude, they are vulnerable to road traffic crash which could lead to injuries and death," he said.

The sector commander also stressed the need for education and information among youths so as to catch them young in the task of promoting road safety culture among them.

He said the aim of the programme was to create awareness among the youth so as to imbibe road safety values as a means of behavioural change.

Also speaking, the Kwara State Commissioner for Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Kayode Towoju, said that road traffic crash was one of the leading causes of death among youths in the state.

The commissioner, who said there was need for intervention through involvement of many sectors and specialists, added that younger generation should be preserved to save human lives, resources, facilities, and money.

He also said that road crashes affected many sectors of the economy and caused physical injuries, psychology effect on victims, families and nation.