From June 9 onwards, Mumbaikars will be penalised for not wearing a helmet even if they are riding pillion on a two-wheeler.
The Mumbai Traffic Police on Wednesday issued a notification stating that wearing helmets for pillion riders is being made compulsory and that a fortnight is being given to Mumbaikars to start complying with this rule.
Officials said that wearing a helmet was always mandatory for pillion riders under the Motor Vehicles Act and that this would now be strictly enforced. Those who fail to comply with the rule would attract a fine of Rs 500 as well as suspension of their driving license for three months.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey said that this was already followed all over the world as well as in most cities in India.
āIf the rider alone wears a helmet, how does it guarantee the safety of the pillion rider? It is like saying that you are safe but you are willing to risk your friend's life. We are doing this after putting a lot of thought into it and are also giving the citizens enough time,ā Pandey said.
Traffic police officials said that the decision was taken in view of rising instances of pillion riders suffering injuries in road accidents involving two-wheelers.
āWe analysed recent data of two-wheeler related accidents and found that in almost all cases, the pillion riders suffered injuries. Making helmets mandatory affixes a responsibility on the pillion riders which will contribute towards a decrease in injuries in accidents,ā Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Raj Tilak Roshan said.
He further said that while it would be the primary responsibility of Traffic Police personnel to enforce this rule, assistance would also be sought from police station personnel wherever required.
The Mumbai Police have, whenever the occasion demanded, empowered police station staff to take action against violators of traffic rules like helmet-less riding, driving on the wrong side, breaking signals, no-entries or one-ways and filling vehicles beyond their stipulated capacity.
