The use of helmets by pillion riders has been made mandatory in the state. It is learnt that in the near future the police will be penalizing those pillion riders who do not wear a helmet. This is a good move as the pillion rider is equally at risk of a head injury in case of an accident. However, what is equally important is that two-wheelers should have rear-view mirrors. Section 5 & 7 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 clearly states that all the two-wheelers are required to have two rear-view mirrors. These steps are taken to ensure traffic discipline and reduce road accidents. However, most riders are not aware that riding without rear-view mirrors is a violation. Rear-view mirrors help in identifying what is coming from behind. The rider can just take a quick glance and change the lanes. Otherwise, the rider has to look back and take his eyes off the road for a longer duration which can be dangerous and can end in an accident. The police in the state need to start a drive against two-wheelers not possessing rear-view mirrors.
