The Hindu : Front Page : Helmet compulsory for two-wheeler riders in corporation areas

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Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006
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Helmet compulsory for two-wheeler riders in corporation areas

Special Correspondent

Bellary city excluded; pillion riders exempted

BANGALORE: The wearing of crash helmets will be made mandatory for two-wheeler riders and the rule will come into force in the limits of Bangalore City and five other city corporation areas in the State from November 1, 2006.

Home Minister M.P. Prakash told presspersons here on Tuesday that a notification would be issued shortly for enforcement of the rule from next month. The wearing of helmets is not mandatory for pillion riders.

The rule will come into effect within the limits of the Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (BMRDA), Mysore, Mangalore, Gulbarga, Hubli-Dhawad and Belgaum city corporations. The Bellary City Corporation area has been exempted in view of the high temperature there.

In Bangalore, the rule will be applicable in the entire city and seven city municipal councils — Bommanhalli, Dasarahalli, Byatarayanapura, Krishnarajapuram, Mahadevapura, Yelahanka, and Rajarajeshwarinagar — and the town municipal council of Kengeri.

All two-wheeler riders should use helmets manufactured to ISI specifications, Mr. Prakash said.

The Karnataka High Court issued a directive to the Government in 2003 to make the wearing of helmets mandatory for two-wheeler riders. The Task Force on Health headed by H. Sudarshan and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) have also favoured the wearing helmets by two-wheeler riders.

Wearing of helmets by two-wheeler riders is mandatory under the Motor Vehicles Act of the Centre, he said. A section of the public and a few legislators had opposed the State Cabinet's decision to impose the helmet rule.

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