BENGALURU: Karnataka Department of Transportation has decided to suspend driver’s licenses for three months if a two-wheeler is caught riding without a helmet. The move comes in the context of an increase in the number of cyclists be reserved by not wearing helmets while driving.
According to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, riding without a helmet will result in a fine of Rs 1,000 and a three-month suspension of the license. The state had reduced the fine to 500 rupees.
In B’luru, 20.7-liter suitcases were reserved for trips without a helmet until September this year
Transportation officials said the Supreme Court-appointed committee on road safety held a video conference on October 14 and recommended strict action against violators.
“Two-wheelers are more vulnerable to traffic accidents. They will have to pay a fine and face a three-month driver’s license suspension in the event of a violation, ”said a transportation department official. Currently, the driver’s license of a person caught drunk driving is suspended for six months.
Karnataka has registered 1.6 crore two-wheelers and almost 60 lakh of them are in Bengaluru. The number of cases registered by the Bengaluru traffic police against cyclists without a helmet was 16.4 lakh in 2018, 20.3 lakh in 2019 and 20.7 lakh until September this year. Similarly, the number of cases booked against the passenger without a helmet was 13.4 lakh in 2018, 12.9 lakh in 2019 and 12.5 lakh in 2020 (as of September).
A former transportation department official said: “Not wearing a helmet is an aggravated crime. Why just driving without a helmet should attract three months of DL suspension? What about other infractions: speeding and dangerous driving? This will lead to corruption, as traffic cops can demand a bribe for not sending the driver’s license to the department of transportation. ”
Bengaluru’s Joint Commissioner (Traffic) BR Ravikanthe Gowda welcomed the move, saying it will deter cyclists from riding without a helmet and reduce the number of fatalities caused by accidents. “This is a step towards the safety of our roads for all,” he added.
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