Pillion riders without helmets to be penalised in Srinagar

Srinagar, Dec 1: Now pillion riders without helmets will have to pay fines or face legal action as authorities have intensified the drive to ensure strict adherence to traffic rules in the summer capital.

In the aftermath of the accident in Tengpora last month, Traffic authorities in Srinagar have been carrying out massive drives to curb traffic violations. The officials from Srinagar Traffic Police and RTO Kashmir carried out special drives focusing on various traffic violations, particularly underage driving, overspeeding, driving without a license.

The officials said that since last week, they have focused on inculcating the habit of helmet-wearing, particularly for pillion riders. An official said that riding two-wheelers without helmets is one of the major traffic violations in Srinagar, and thousands of people are challaned for the offense every year. “We have lost many youth in Srinagar to two-wheeler accidents. Many lives would have been saved if riders and pillion riders had worn helmets. Although we are already strict on this issue but since Srinagarites have lent massive support to our drives, we want to focus on inculcating helmet-wearing habit to pillion riders as well,” said an official.

Meanwhile, a few days back, RTO Kashmir issued a written appeal to the general public to adhere to helmet culture. “Under section 129 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 it is mandatory for every person driving or riding two wheeler to wear helmet conforming to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms. This rule applies to both the rider and pillion passenger. Violating this provision can lead to penalties under section 194D of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, which prescribes fines for non-compliance” reads the written appeal.

As per the data accessed by Greater Kashmir, over one lakh people were penalized for not wearing helmet in Srinagar last year. This year the violations have crossed one lakh and seven thousand already, and the number is expected to rise given the massive drives by traffic police. Every year a huge number of people in Srinagar, including those riding two-wheelers, fall prey to accidents. As per the data, 192 people lost their lives in Srinagar in road accidents in the last four years. This excludes the deaths in the year 2024.

Following the horrific accident in Tengpora that led to the deaths of two youngsters, officials said that all stakeholders, including the general public, have lent their support to ensure safer roads in Srinagar. SSP Traffic Police Srinagar, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah said that in addition to other traffic violation they have shifted their focus to inculcating helmet wearing habit for riders and pillions in Srinagar. He said that many two wheelers have been challaned where pillion riders are not seen wearing helmet.

“We have intensified the drives, and we will continue with it in the coming days. We will rope in all the stakeholders to play their part in making the Srinagar roads safer. This will save many lives, and it will help to inculcate the helmet-wearing culture in Srinagarites. People have been cooperative, and we hope these initiatives will save numerous lives lost in accidents every year,” Shah said.