by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Bangalore, Nov 22: Karnataka Government has taken one more decision relating to helmet-wearing. The latest decision is to withdraw the earlier order of making helmet compulsory for two-wheeler riders in the whole of Karnataka. That order was enforced from Kannada Rajyotsava Day, on Nov. 1, 2006.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy having taken the significant decision to withdraw the order on compulsory helmet-wearing, has given instructions to Director General of Police B.S. Sial according to highly placed sources in the Government.

The decision to do away with the helmet rule after amending the Motor Vehicles Act, is learnt to have been taken and the Chief Minister has reportedly asked the Police not to harass the two-wheeler riders without helmet.

In future, the option of wearing helmet while riding the two-wheelers would be left to the riders themselves.

2 killed while riding vehicle sans helmet

Mysore, Nov 22: As a result of riding two-wheelers without wearing helmet, two riders have died in road mishaps within 24 hours in the city.

One Swamy, resident of Kumbarakoppalu, while travelling as a pillion rider on a two-wheeler driven by Narayana near the Rail Museum on KRS Road at about 7.45 pm on Sunday (Nov. 19), had fallen off the vehicle, sustaining head injuries. He breathed his last later.

In another incident on Monday, Javaregowda, working as cashier in State Bank of Mysore, sustained head injuries when he fell from his vehicle. He breathed his last in BGS Apollo Hospital yesterday morning.

In both mishaps, the riders got killed because of not wearing helmet, Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said.

Helmet-wearing was necessary from the view point of riders' safety and not for either adhering to rules or to avoid levy of fine by Police, he has advised.