PANAJI
In a bid to tackle the rising number of fatal accidents involving pillion riders, the Traffic Department of Goa Police has announced a crackdown on helmetless riders and pillion riders.
The strict enforcement will follow only after a State-wide awareness drive to educate pillion riders on the importance of wearing helmets.
The move comes after disturbing facts that reveal an increasing number of pillions riders being killed due to non-compliance of helmet laws.
Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Bossuet Silva revealed that around 6-7 pillion riders lost their lives to accidents in the last 15-20 days. In all these cases, the pillion riders did not wear helmets and died of grievous head injuries.
“As per the Motor Vehicles Act, wearing of helmets by riders and pillion riders is mandatory. In our increased enforcement to ensure there is no traffic violation, we are also advising pillion riders to wear helmets.
After the awareness campaign, we will begin strict enforcement of the law,” Silva said.
According to the police, this is a much-needed step in the right direction to promote road safety. “One life lost is a loss to the economy and the nation,” he stated.
In a recent statement, Director General of Police Jaspal Singh said that even though 75 per cent of accidents are caused by two-wheeler-related accidents, the riders should also wear helmets. He also insisted that both, riders and pillions, should wear BIS-certified helmets on all roads and highways.
Silva added that wearing helmets is compulsory even on internal roads. The penalty for not wearing helmets is Rs 1,000.
The State, in the past, has made several attempts to enforce the rule on the pillion riders but it was always met with opposition from various sectors including the motorcycle pilots who argued their passengers will not accept used helmets. In 2020 Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho had said helmets were not compulsory for the pillion riders.
