TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: With the Transport Department enforcing compulsory wearing of helmets for two-wheeler riders on all roads in Goa from Wednesday, shops in the State registered a hike in ISI-mark helmets sales.
United Enterprises located in the city, registered sales of over 80 helmets by Tuesday evening. “We usually get between 10 and 15 people buying helmets on a daily basis. Tuesday, however, saw sales go up significantly. We sold over 80 helmets by the end of the day,” the shop attendant recounted.
The attendant, however, said some people are still willing to test the waters before buying helmets. “There were some that genuinely bought helmets to use as the rule is being implemented, however, some said they didn’t think that the department was serious,” he said.
Like in the past, most expect the implementation of the rule to fall flat in a matter of days. Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) coordinator Roland Martins said that while the compulsory helmet rule has always been a part of the Motor Vehicles Act, it was only the implementation that needed to be followed thoroughly.
“It was always the implementation of the rule that was the issue. This time, we hope they will implement the rule strictly. But along with these rules, it is important to emphasize and insist on the use of ISI-mark helmets to help in preventing fatalities,” Martins said.
Martins also said buying a helmet should be made compulsory when purchasing a two-wheeler. “It should be made mandatory that while buying a bike the company must sell an ISI-marked helmet to the user as well. It should be made part and parcel of the price of the vehicle,” he said, adding that campaigns would be launched to sensitize both buyers and sellers on the importance of helmets.
Of the 189 road accident deaths reported in 2014, 131 victims were not wearing helmets. Earlier this week, Transport Director Arun Desai said that while the fatalities would have drastically reduced with the simple use of a helmet, it was eventually up to the “individual to decide how crucial he or she is to his or her family”.
