Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 30: Pillion riders in the state will soon be required to protect their heads with helmets. The state government is likely to come out with an order in this connection soon, may be in a week or so.

The government had issued draft notification about implementing the rule making it mandatory for both two-wheeler riders and pillion riders to wear helmets, on September 18 this year. Now it is preparing to issue notification, after verifying objections received to the draft notification. Once the new rule comes into force, everyone travelling by a two-wheeler will be required to wear helmet. No exceptions are allowed from this condition.

Helmets will be required to be worn even by school-going children travelling in two-wheelers with parents. Failure to adhere to this rule will attract penalty. The two-wheeler riders willing to give a free ride to people in need, will be able to help only if they or the other person have a spare helmet.

At present, wearing of helmets is compulsory for two-wheeler riders only within the city corporation limits of Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Hubballi-Dharwad. This coverage of this rule is being expanded to the entire state this time. The central government had, sometime back, asked all the states to make wearing of helmets mandatory for all those travelling by two-wheelers, in tune with the recommendation made by a committee constituted by Supreme Court.

It is gathered that only 250 to 300 persons have expressed their disagreement to the helmet rule. The department of transport officials say that the reasons sighted by these persons are general in nature and none of them are worth serious consideration. Under secretary in the department of transport, K Beeresh, said that the proposal has already been placed before the principal secretary in the department of transport, as none of the objections raised are serious. Transport commissioner, Dr Ramegowda, also said that the helmet rule will come into force within eight to ten days.