PANJIM: Despite 80 percent of road deaths of pillion riders occurring on roads other than highways, Government has softened its stand on making helmet compulsory for pillion riders, with Transport Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar on Tuesday announcing that from October 2 helmet for riders would be compulsory on all roads, but for pillion riders the compulsion is only on highways.
At the same time, Dhavalikar also hinted that he might re-think on implementation of helmet for riders on all roads, if there are objections.
Dhavalikar, while claiming that the safety of riders and pillions is of utmost importance, said that in the first phase helmets for riders and pillions would be made compulsory only on highways from October 2. “While helmet for riders is mandatory on all roads,” he said adding that the file with regards to the decision would be moved to Chief Minister by September 26, for approval.
“Helmet is the need of the hour,” the minister said pointing to the alarming figures of two-wheeler rider and pillion rider deaths. The road accident deaths involving two-wheelers has gone up from 57 percent in 2010 to 66 percent, till March 2014.
