Helmet rule for pillion riders: Bengalureans don’t care as 13 lakh cases registered
Despite the mandatory helmet rule by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) in 2016, the two-wheeler riders seem to have dumped the traffic rule literally. The data from BTP says 13,40,824 pillion riders were caught for not wearing helmet last year
FollowBengaluru: With 13,40,824 pillion riders caught for not wearing helmet in 2018, two years after the implementation of the rule in January 2016, it is very evident that the traffic rules are being dumped.
According to the data from the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP), the first year after the implementation of the rule, in 2016, the department witnessed 17,34,111 pillion riders without helmet cases and in 2017, 16,99,716 cases were booked.
"The department with its various education and awareness programme was hoping to bring down such cases drastically but the two-wheeler riders mostly youngsters and college goers do not care for the rule. They like their hairs and face to be visible despite knowing that this act of them is a risk and also attracts a penalty. Still, they do not care," said senior traffic police officer.
To bring in more discipline, the transport and traffic departments have come up with a week-long awareness drive. The 30th national road safety week 2019 that is being held across Bengaluru involving college students also focuses much on motorists’ behaviour and stress of young riders and drivers and help them.
"From bike rally, essay competition, talks from experts and victims have been lined up at different colleges to reach out to students from February 4 to 11," said Dr KV Jagadish, DCP Traffic East.
