Enforce wearing of helmet, seat belt: Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has asked the police as to why helmet rule for pillion riders on two wheelers and seat belt for car drivers not enforced effectively. A division bench of Justices S. Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad has directed the authorities to file a report on the steps taken to implement the mandatory rule.

When a petition filed by K.K. Rajendran, of Korattur, came up for hearing the bench said “we have never seen a pillion rider wearing helmet though it is mandatory as per the Motor Vehicles Act”. The petitioner wanted the court to direct the police to ensure that helmet is worn by both the rider and pillion as mandated in the Motor Vehicles Act.

Citing a report from Transport Commissioner, Rajendran said, the statistics reveal that accidents are caused 70 to 90 per cent due to road users’ behaviour and lack of awareness about the helmet use. 

The report adds that stringent implementation of helmet rule had in fact reduced road accidents and fatalities in 2017. Out of 2.51crore lakh vehicles in the state, and about 84 per cent of them are two wheelers and the maximum fatalities are that of two wheelers and failure to wear helmets was primary cause for death in the mishaps. 

In 2016, 4091 deaths occurred due to non-wearing of helmets and it has decreased to 2956 during 2017 due to various steps taken by the state.