On 30-Jul-06, at 12:31 PM, Deepa Mohan wrote:
and it would be pertinent at this juncture to mention that the
Karnataka Govt has AGAIN deferred the rule on helmets. The
Karnataka powers-that-be don't need helmets, they are only required
when there are brains to protect.
At risk of being dismissed a troll, I'd like to state that IMHO, this
is a good thing. The helmet rule introduces more problems than it
solves. Helmets should be optional. For the record, I always wear one.
Let's look at the problems it introduces:
1. Pillion riders. I occasionally give rides to friends or strangers
on the road. Under this rule, my options are:
1a. Always carry a spare helmet. That is, the government burdens me
because I'm trying to be friendly to society.
1b. Expect anyone who wants a ride to carry a helmet. I'd love to see
how the government expects this to happen.
1c. Don't give rides. Be selfish. You know those people standing by
the roadside late at night, hoping you'll give them a ride, because
there's no public transport available? Screw them. After all, the
government's decided to shaft them doubly, first by taking their tax
money and not providing public transport that works, and now by
demanding someone produce a spare helmet if the fellow's going to get
a ride. If even the government doesn't care, why should you?
2. Motorcycle rickshaws, aka "pilots". We don't have them in
Bangalore, but they're common in Goa. They're cheaper than
autorickshaws and often more convenient. Now the fellow requires you
to wear his spare helmet, and who knows what head it sat on before
and what it took away? Hair oil, head lice, dandruff? I prefer wind
in my hair, please.
3. Short rides. I have a helmet lock on the bike, but prefer to keep
the helmet indoors because dust collects on the visor and leaves
scratches. This means when going out for a very short ride, under
half a kilometre, for example, I have to remember to pick up the
helmet on the way out. Sometimes I don't, and then I have the option
of spending an equal amount of time getting to the destination or
going back in for the helmet. I'll not be doing over 30 kmph anyway
on a quiet residential lane, but who's going to tell that to the
overzealous cop at the corner who's got a quota to finish?
Finally, even if making it mandatory for front riders and optional
for pillion, what's the point? Why go only halfway? Why not stop
being a nanny state and treat *licensed* drivers like adults who can
think for themselves?
--
Kiran Jonnalagadda
http://jace.seacrow.com/
