One important step has been taken by the transport authorities in Mumbai in order to increase the safety of two-wheeler riders. A new directive has been issued to all the two-wheeler dealers in Mumbai and as per this directive, it is compulsory now for the dealer to sell two helmets to the customer who is purchasing the vehicle.
Now if any pillion rider is caught without helmet in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane, he will be punished as per the provision of Motor Vehicles Act.
Satish Sahasrabudhe, Additional transport commissioner stated, “RTOs will now take a proof (receipt) from the dealer at the time of vehicle registration to ensure he has supplied two helmets to the rider.”
Till now, dealers needed to furnish the proof of giving one helmet to the rider but now onwards, they will need to give the proof that pillion rider has also been provided with the helmet.
As maintained by a senior transport official, “The Motorvehicle Act mandates that two-wheeler rider and pillion rider have to compulsorily wear helmets. But this was not being enforced strictly. Also, the Bombay high court, in a previous PIL hearing, had asked the state to follow the rule of pillion rider wearing a helmet.”
TOI talked to some riders and they have their own presumptions about this step. This is what Vishwas Mhatre, a bike rider, thinks about this, “First, try and implement the helmet rule for the primary rider, then target the pillion. There are scores of riders, who are in cahoots with the traffic cops, and for whom the rules dont apply at all.”
However, as per the RTO, nearly 2000 riders were caught in January when a major drive was conducted.
