Mumbai: Traffic Police makes helmet compulsory for pillion riders, gives 15 days' deadline

Mumbaikars have 15 days to get themselves a helmet as the Mumbai Traffic Police MTP have decided to crack down on those spotted without one including pillion riders They released a notification on Wednesday stating that violators would have to pay a fine of Rs 500 or the licence of the riders would be suspended if they are found without a helmetThis is the latest decision among several measures taken by the Commissioner of Police CP Sanjay Pandey since he took charge of the office in March Previously he ordered penal action against people riding and driving on the wrong side of the road According to Wednesdayrsquos notification violation of the mandatory helmet rule would attract a fine of Rs 500 or suspension of the licence for three monthsLeena Wadkar a rider says it is hard to manage multiple bags and helmets tooThe Motor Vehicles Act which was amended in 2019 introduced a provision mandating the wearing of helmets by all pillion riders above the age of four years However the rule is hardly followed in most parts of the country ldquoAs per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 a helmet is mandatory for everyone on a twowheeler Data also shows that helmetless riders and pillion riders are at greater risk of dying in an accident when compared to those wearing a helmet We are urging the citizens especially youngsters to follow the rules and ride safelyrdquo said Joint Commissioner Traffic RajvardhanThe decision to strictly implement the rules has been mostly applauded by the public but some feel that it would be inconvenient and could lead to extortion by police Leena Wadkar 26 a sales coordinator at a Borivlibased company said ldquoItrsquos a bad decision Itrsquos difficult to carry even one helmet along with our bags due to lack of space in the bike It would be tough to carry a second helmet The rule should be applicable on highways or main roads where big vehicles ply and there are more chances of accidents Pillions should be allowed to ride without a helmet in small lanes and gulliesrdquoBharti Dave 48 from Borivli also believes that helmets for pillion riders shouldnrsquot be mandatory in small lanes ldquoIt will now increase corruption People riding in small lanes donrsquot wear a helmet and police are catching them and looting them After this decision there is a high chance of increasing corruption in the traffic police department Helmets for pillion riders should be mandatory only on main roads and highwaysrdquo Most in favourAnagha Dhondye 32 a Malad resident said ldquoItrsquos too good a decision because pillion riders definitely sustain injuries in accidents and in many cases they die Itrsquos also appropriate for Mumbai because of the poor condition of the roads Even children riding with their parents should wear a helmet It is for our safetyrdquo Prabhadevi resident Ameet Pawaskar said ldquoI frequently ride pillion with my friends Sometimes I also take a bike taxi but none provided me with a helmet So I purchased my own helmet and I carry it along with me Itrsquos for my safety The traffic police have made a good decisionrdquo Pushkar Vishwasrao from Dadar said ldquoIt is important that both the riders on a twowheeler wear a helmet as the city has bad roadsrdquoWhat WHO saysThe World Health Organization WHO says injuries to the head and neck are the main cause of death severe injury and disability among users of motorcycles and bicycles In European countries head injuries contribute to around 75 per cent of deaths among motorised twowheeler users and in some lowincome and middleincome countries head injuries are estimated to account for up to 88 per cent of such fatalities Head injuries like in these cases exert a high toll on a countryrsquos healthcare costs and its economylsquoFirst fix the roadsrsquoHetal Kiri a resident of Mulund said ldquoBefore implementing this rule in Mumbai police and the traffic department should inform the BMC and the state government to repair the roads and fill up the potholes My son studies in Std VII and I drop him to school daily on my scooter I have to navigate potholefilled roads which have never been fixed I never go beyond 3040 kmph The decision will only help helmet sellers and police to loot and corruption will increaserdquoRs 500Amount in fine if caught without a helmet