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 cattleā€™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

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