Buckle up, Mumbai! Pillion-riders without helmets will face action

If you own a two-wheeler, make sure you buy an additional helmet for the pillion-rider immediately. The Maharashtra government is all set to implement the rule in the state capital and is no mood to compromise the safety of riders and pillion riders. The Mumbai traffic police are cracking the whip on two-wheeler riders  and pillion riders who do not wear helmets while riding on the Mumbai roads. The transport department and the traffic police of Mumbai will start a special drive from Friday (29 April)  to implement the government’s new notification on traffic violations. [caption id=“attachment_688221” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Helmets have been made mandatory for pillion riders and people caught without them will be sent to a two-hour seminar on traffic rules. The same goes for those caught driving without a seat belt and penalty fine of Rs 100. The special drive started across Mumbai from 29 April, 2016, said police inspector (planning) Shreeram Koregaonkar. The special drive will be continue in Mumbai region in the future as well. Not to mention that “penalties too will be levied for violating traffic rules”, said transport minister Diwakar Raote. " Action will also be taken against those who ride two-wheelers making more noise than permitted." The stipulations on drink-driving are stringent. The traffic police will not only suspend the license of anyone caught driving after a tipple, but also register a case against the person. Even for a first offence, the police will appeal in court for a jail term. The notification, issued on 31 December, mentions other violations like plying overloaded vehicles and using vehicles meant for carrying goods as passenger vehicles. More than thirty teams will be stationed in Mumbai to suspend driving licenses on the spot for traffic violations like speeding, jumping signal, drink-driving and talking on a mobile phone while driving. The period of suspension will be three months. Talking to Firstpost, Joint commissioner (traffic) Milind Bharambe said the drive was to sound off a strong warning to the drivers. “We will enforce the new government resolution (GR) soon and these drives are being carried out to send a warning to violators before they face harsh punishment. We are extremely serious about ensuring that no one rides a two-wheeler without a helmet,” he said. “We were waiting for the exams to get over, so now today (Friday) onwards, helmets are mandatory for pillion riders as well in Mumbai. Otherwise, they will face action.”

  One has to mention the terrific job being done by the Mumbai Traffic Police in trying to control motorcyclists and improve the traffic in general.  “The traffic Police will create awareness on the need to wear helmets during the counseling. This is only for people’s safety,” said Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic) Milind Bharambe. Meanwhile, all traffic divisions have been specifically asked to conduct drives and book those not wearing helmets. The city police’s help has also been sought where there is a shortage of staff. “We have already booked 30 people in just half an hour for not wearing helmets. Because of the drive in the next few days, the number of people wearing helmets has increased,” said a traffic cop from Dadar. However, not everyone is convinced about the efficacy of the drive. People say that making helmets compulsory for pillion riders is a far-fetched idea, given that the traffic police have not been able to enforce the rule making it mandatory for motorcycle riders to wear helmets. Read the fine for traffic violations here. [caption id=“attachment_2756380” align=“alignnone” width=“563”] A copy of the the order signed by police inspector Shriram Koregaonkar on behalf of the joint commissioner of police (traffic) Milind Bharambe[/caption]