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Helmet Rule implementation to be strict in Goa

Riding two wheelers? Do not forget to carry your protective gear along with you as wearing no helmet will get you challaned by the traffic
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Riding two wheelers? Do not forget to carry your protective gear along with you as wearing no helmet will get you challaned by the traffic police for the violation of road safety norms. According to the new move by the government of Goa wearing helmet on all the roads has been made compulsory and the same is being implemented strictly from 1st of April 2015.

The outcome of this move witnessed many people using helmets and also many people being challaned for non-usage of the helmets while riding two wheelers. Around 600 violators were booked on the first day of implementation of helmet rule all over the state. In all, around 187 cases were booked in the capital city alone and around ` 60,000 were collected by way of fines, informed police officials. Enforcement cell of transport department alone booked around 70 motorists for not wearing helmet in Panaji. However, this did not affect the people from remote areas and villages; people openly flouted the rule and continued to risk their lives.

RTO tried its best to keep the check on the high traffic zones in Goa including the Divja Circle, KTC Bus terminus, Porvorim Highway, Old Goa Bypass, Merces Junction and Calangute-Saligao roads and imposed the fines on the spot on violators. The fine of ` 100 was imposed for riding without a helmet under Section 129 read with 177 of Motor Vehicles Act. Under the rule, there is a provision of confiscation of driving licence if the violator fails to pay the fine.

Agreeing to the poor implementation of the rule all over the state the department of transport officials said “We could not book many people due to shortage of manpower and vehicles and excessive workload. The rule will be enforced in Toto in a couple of days as the enforcement will be intensified.” Enforcement cell of transport department has made an appeal to motorists to cooperate with them and advised them to purchase headgears of good quality approved by Bureau of Standards. Meanwhile, in a bid to avoid fines, many two-wheeler riders were seen purchasing helmets from vendors at many shops throughout the day.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Traffic North Goa, Dharmesh Angle sent the message across the state saying that “Please wear helmet as it is for your own safety and not for the sake of traffic police. Remember someone is waiting for you at home, someone who needs you.” According to him there is a rise in people wearing helmets owing to awareness done by the media on helmet compulsion as well as the safety aspect.

[pullquote-right]What is your opinion on this latest move of the Goa government? Do you think people should make a habit of wearing helmets while riding the bike or government should make the road conditions better and then enforce the rule? Please leave your comments on the DISQUS forum at the end of this page and spread your voice on this bigger platform.[/pullquote-right]

Dessai further said, “There is no need for issue of fresh circular as riding without a helmet is illegal under Section 129 read with 177 of Motor Vehicles Act in safety point of view.” At a recent meeting between Chief Secretary and officials of the transport department, it was revealed that as per statistics, out of 180 accidental deaths reported, 130 persons died of head injury. It was highlighted that had they wore helmets, they would have been saved. The impact of the accident at 45 km/hour is equivalent to falling down from the fifth floor of a building and accident with 60 km per hour speed is like collapsing from eighth or ninth floor. Explained Mr. Dessai.

However the bike riders had different opinion on the entire situation according to them the transport department and PWD are more responsible for the accidents of two wheelers as the most accidents occur due to poor road conditions and if the government is really concerned about people’s lives then it should provide good roads first and then enforce rules.

However being concerned about your own safety should be the priority for all of us as government will not change overnight and start providing us with the good infrastructure but meanwhile if we do not follow the rules and regulation then it will be our loss at the end of the day. What is your opinion on this latest move of the Goa government? Do you think people should make a habit of wearing helmets while riding the bike or government should make the road conditions better and then enforce the rule? Please leave your comments on the DISQUS forum at the end of this page and spread your voice on this bigger platform.

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