Living dangerously: Over 15L cases booked against helmetless Hyd riders in 2022
As per the MVA, a fine of Rs. 200 is issued for not wearing a helmet for both the driver and pillion rider
By Amrutha Kosuru Published on 9 July 2022 3:03 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Not wearing a helmet is the most common traffic violation reported in the Hyderabad commissionerate. More than half of the total cases booked for various traffic violations constitute those booked for not wearing a helmet. Between 1 January and 7 July 2022, the Hyderabad traffic police booked 15,46,245 cases against riders for not wearing helmets. The cases booked also include those in which pillion riders were not wearing a helmet.
The city traffic police booked a total of 21,76,326 cases this year. Of these, 8,87,883 challans have been cleared while 12,88,443 are pending.
Another common traffic violation is over-speeding. In 2022, the Hyderabad police booked 61,398 cases for over-speeding and dangerous driving. In 2021, 53 lakh cases for helmet violations were booked by the Hyderabad traffic police.
No action against helmetless TRS leaders
On 2 July, several TRS leaders participated in a bike rally without wearing helmets. The TRS members, including Gadwal Vijayalaxmi, Deputy Mayor Mothe Srilatha Sobhan Reddy, Khairatabad MLA D. Nagender, and many others were spotted at the rally without helmets. The rally was conducted in support of Opposition Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha.
When NewsMeter reached out to the Hyderabad traffic police about whether a case was booked against them, they confirmed that no e-challan has been issued. "No e-challan was issued because the focus is to ensure law and order is maintained during such events," an official said.
68 killed in road accidents in 2022
Meanwhile, 68 people have died in road accidents in the Hyderabad commissionerate since January. Of these, 47 people were not wearing helmets and 21 people were pillion riders. In Cyberabad, a total of 211 persons have been killed in road accidents in the last six months. Two-wheeler accidents constitute 58% of the deaths recorded since January. Of these 211 deaths, 172 were drivers who were not wearing helmets and the rest were pillion riders.
A study conducted by the Cyberabad traffic police last year found that 82% of those who died in two-wheeler accidents were not wearing a helmet.
What does the law say?
Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) states that every person driving or riding, otherwise than in a sidecar, a motorcycle of any class or description shall, while in a public place, wear protective headgear conforming to the standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards. However, there are certain provisions. The Act does not apply to a person who is a Sikh, if he is, while driving or riding on a motorcycle, in a public place, or wearing a turban.
The provisions of Section 129 of the MVA '88 require the protective headgear to conform to the Bureau of Indian Standards. The law thus requires that all protective helmets for motorcycle riders meet or exceed the minimum performance requirements specified in the corresponding Indian Standard (IS: 4151 in case of protective helmets).
As per the MVA, a fine of Rs. 200 is issued for not wearing a helmet for both the driver and pillion rider.
Over 1L charge sheets filed
On the other hand, the Hyderabad traffic police have been filing charge sheets instead of e-challans for various offenses, particularly drunk driving and minors caught driving. This year, 1,38,298 charge sheets have been filed by the traffic department. The court has levied a total fine of Rs. 57,46,527. In 15 cases, only imprisonment was given.
