Why Delhi needs a 'helmet for all' policy

New Delhi: “My head is not stronger than yours,” a female friend told me when I asked her what she thought of the fairer sex resisting helmet. “And it is not about looks because I cannot risk my life for my looks,” she continued. “Then why don’t we see women wearing helmets in Delhi?” I asked. “Responsible women wear it. Others do not go for it, because it is not mandatory under the law,” she said. “I think the companies should make it tempting such as tan- proof helmets or women- friendly helmets.” I think she has a point as taking the legal route to helmets has failed in the national capital. [caption id=“attachment_291934” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“On Wednesday,the  state government told the Delhi Court that it would make mandatory for all women riders to wear a helmet. Reuters”]  [/caption] The first time the Delhi government tried bringing a legislation asking women riders/ drivers to wear headgears was in 1990s. The move met huge opposition from women in general and the Sikh community in particular. It was said that wearing any kind of head gear other than turban was against the basis tenets of Sikh religion. In November 1997, around 100 Sikh women marched to the Delhi High Court shouting slogans against BJP which was in power in the city. They filed a petition challenging the move to make helmet mandatory for all two- wheeler riders. The state government succumbed. Safety became a casualty. Those who witnessed the agitation said the government did not want to lose the ‘Punjabi’ vote- share. In June 1999, before the city went to assembly polls, the state government amended the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules 1993. “It shall be optional for women whether riding pillion or driving on a motor cycle to wear a protective headgear,” says section 115 (2) of the Rules. Though the protest was spearheaded by the Sikh community, women of every religion got rid of the ergonomic headgear. Bizzare it sounds, but the only known argument was that since policemen would not be able to identify Sikh women from their appearance, there came an all women exemption. The helmet is back, with a twist. On Wednesday,the  state government told the Delhi Court that it would make mandatory for all women riders to wear a helmet. But then next day, the government took a U- turn and said that it would maintain the status quo. Though the government will be hesitant to admit, the reasons are no different from the factors in 1999. “They have to be sensitive to our religion. We have no issues with a Sikh woman wearing helmet. But the government should make it optional for them,” said Manjeet Singh, member, Delhi Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee. It is this ‘keep it optional’ approach and considering an  helmet as an imposition rather than as a safety measure, which has cause more damage than good. Statistics suggest that there is no reason for Delhi not to implement ‘helmet for all’ policy. Last year, 705 two wheeler riders died in road accidents in Delhi. Of this, 47 were women. More than 35 percent of road accidents casualties in the national capital in 2011 involved two- wheelers. This is three percent more than 2010 figures. A report of the union ministry of road transport and highways shows that two- wheelers accounted for the highest share of total road accidents (23.8 percent) in India followed by trucks and tempos. Two wheeler accidents caused 19.1 percent of casualties in 2010. Developing countries including Vietnam, Cambodia and Uganda are involved in the Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative which works with governments, private sectors and NGOs to promote motorcycle helmets. There is no such policy in India. “In our country, there is no political will to take such a bold decision," said Dr Rohit Baluja, president, Institute of Road Traffic Education. “In my knowledge, Delhi is the only state which has rules exempting women from wearing headgear,” he added. Police officials say that women drivers are as vulnerable to road accidents as males and helmets are equally important for them. In fact, women pillion riders are more exposed to the risk of head injury as they have nothing to hold on to and they risk falling in the middle of traffic. But Police cannot do much in the absence of law. “The only way we can bring in mindset, is by creating awareness. We do that regularly," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic), Delhi.