TEAM HERALD
PANJIM Rescinding its stand on the enforcement of compulsory wearing of helmets rule, the state government has granted relaxation to two wheeler riders, withdrawing the compulsory wearing of helmet on “other roads” including cities. However, it is mandatory for riders and pillion riders to wear helmets on highways from October 2.
Pillion riders were earlier exempted from wearing helmets on city and village roads. The decision comes despite almost 75 per cent of deaths involving riders and pillions are reported on roads other than highways.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in his noting on the helmet rule implementation file, directed transport department to “temporarily” relax the rule which mandates that riders and pillion should wear helmets on city and village roads, while making it compulsory to wear helmets for both pillions and riders on the highways. Though, the motor vehicle Act (MV) makes helmet for riders and pillions mandatory on highways, the rule is not being strictly enforced so far. At present only the riders are fined, if found not wearing helmets on national and state highways.
It may be noted that Transport Minister Ramakrishna Sudin Dhavalikar during his recent media interaction had hinted on a “re-think” on implementation of helmets for riders on all roads, if there are objections. He had said that the final decision would be taken by Chief Minister in the public interest.
When asked, Chief Minister, refusing to give details said “implementation of helmet on the highways would be strictly monitored”. “There is already a rule pertaining to helmets and we are following the same,” he said.
There was resentment among certain sections of the public on wearing of helmets on interior roads and for pillion riders on highways.
Directorate of Transport is on record to state that the deaths of two-wheelers riders and pillions have gone up from 57 percent in 2010 to 66 percent in 2014, till April. Department figures also prove that over the years, more than 60 percent of deaths related to two-wheeler riders and pillion are on roads other than national highways.
As per the statistics, by end of April 2014, total of 1150 road mishap including fatal and non fatal category were reported, resulting deaths of 79 people, including 59 two-wheeler riders, of which 38 deaths are reported on “other roads”.
The figures also shows that of the total five pillion riders who died till April end, four died on other roads while one died on the national highway.
