Helmets to save life Helmets compulsory for pillion
Come October the already burdened traffic police will have more on their plates. They will not mind it of course, because it is an opportunity to control and implement laws more in breach. In European countries it is a compulsion and none complains grudges or attempts to dodge. Everyone understands the safety aspects. There is also no question of looking the other way by law enforcing agencies. The population of two wheelers is not as what we see it on Indian roads and bikes are not used all year round. It is a sort of sports rather than a means of transportation.The bikes are also very heavy .No separate lanes are considered here too. All types of vehicles including cycles vie for limited space. The vehicles population and especially of the bikes is on the increase .Practically every house has 2 plus bikes and easy finance fuels the craze for demands. The heavy vehicles treat this means of essential transport with impunity and care two hoots. Road discipline is totally lacking in India and one get easily get away with traffic offences The roads in Goa have remained the same without being expanded to accommodate the ever increasing vehicles.Besides the roads are narrowing, potholed and badly maintained. The heavy rains are blamed for bad roads and not poor, loosely monitored construction quality and materials used. The roads are poorly lighted, with dangerous overhanging trees and branches and stray cattle’s, dogs are a menace to two wheeler s. The speed breakers without markings are a serious threat to two wheeler s and source of many fatal accidents. Carrying and additional helmet for a possible lift will be a thing of the past. Those who park the vehicles will have to carry the helmet on onward journey by buses. To secure two helmets and go about shopping will be irritating, though some bikes have provision for one helmet only. Many parents transport children to school. Either the second pillion will be banned as per law, or children will also have to wear compulsory head gear .The requirement of ISI mark can easily be faked to cash on the mass demand immediately and many such available products in the market are dubious. not easily verifiable by common man, unless there will be stringent monitoring by agency concerned. Fake helmets are a danger much greater Many accidents involving two wheelers without wearing of helmets have snatched away precious, young lives. There is no statistical comparison to show how many lives are saved with wearing of helmets. Rash driving and without license are also contributing factors and parents are responsible for putting the vehicles in the hands of the minors .Students today are riding bikes to schools and colleges and it has almost become a fad without justifiable lack of public transport. The ease of obtaining a license by hook or crook is not debatable; The Govt has provided schools buses to minimize the difficulties to some extent Lack of efficient, regular, public transport makes people dependent on their own. Rash and drunken driving, slippery roads due to oil spillage and poor quality of maintenance of vehicles add to the woes of bike users It is a sinister move to enforce helmets for short distances even on interior roads and that will give powers to traffic police and increase the scope of corruption. For cash starved Govt. looking to augment resources through fines and sales of helmets, it will be good opportunity. To attribute all fatal accidents or causing disability to two wheeler s is simplistic approach to real problems; Research is not absolutely conclusive in favour of wearing helmets. There are problems of visibility, hearing, and 360 degrees vision and damage to the base of the brain in accidents.Govt wants us to believe that use of helmets alone is a panacea for the benefit and safety of bike riders Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
