Team Herald
PONDA: Despite rising fatalities and increased fines, the craze and thrill of riding without a helmet continues unabated, especially among young bikers on highways and internal roads in Ponda. These bikers not only risk their lives but also endanger themselves further when they attempt to flee from traffic police, who stop them for riding without helmets.
The Ponda Traffic Cell has fined 883 bikers for helmetless riding up to June 15 this year.
Statistics show that among all road accidents in Goa, bike riders account for the highest percentage of fatalities. Despite this, many riders continue to drive without helmets, endangering their lives and the well-being of their families who rely on them. On internal roads in the taluka, where traffic police presence is minimal, helmetless riders are a common sight.
According to local resident Vishal Fadte, many riders wear helmets only to avoid fines. “If there is no traffic police, they won’t wear it. Some even carry helmets on their bikes and only put them on when they see police ahead,” he said. He emphasized the need for a change in mentality, stressing that wearing helmets is about personal safety and protecting the lives of their families, including mothers, wives, and children. He also pointed out that pothole-ridden roads further increase the risk for bikers, underscoring the need for better road conditions.
A traffic official from Ponda noted that when helmetless bikers spot traffic police, they often try to flee by speeding, which significantly increases the risk of accidents, either through self-accidents or collisions with heavy vehicles. For this reason, police often avoid chasing such riders, but the message remains clear: bikers should wear helmets for their own safety, not just to avoid penalties.