Following Complaints From Frustrated Citizens, Gujarat Makes Helmets 'Temporarily' Optional

After cutting down fines for traffic violations, the Gujarat government has landed in controversy for yet another move: The state government has now made helmets temporary on city roads.

The state government on Wednesday decided to make it voluntary ¡°within the limits of municipalities and municipal corporations." The decision comes after a barrage of complaints lodged by citizens who claimed they were greatly inconvenienced. Their argument was: Why would someone have to wear a helmet to go buy vegetables?

PTI

According to a press release, the state government made helmets for those on two-wheelers "temporarily" optional.

Gujarat minister RC Faldu who stood by the decision said that commuters didn't usually cover long distances within cities and so it only made sense to make it compulsory on state and national highways.

¡°We were receiving many complaints¡­ Some people asked where to put the helmet while going to buy vegetables, (some) people (were) forced to wear the helmet even while going to attend funerals¡­ After holding detailed discussions, the state government has taken this decision today,¡± The Indian Express quoted Faldu as saying.

But the decision still stands contrary to the newly amended Motor Vehicles Act. Road safety experts slammed Gujarat's state government's hasty move, claiming that a thorough study of accidents related to not wearing helmets was needed before putting the decision out in public.

Picture for representation/PTI

According to the latest road accident report by the transport ministry, out of the total 48,746 two-wheeler riders who were killed in road crashes in 2018, little over 43,600 were not wearing a helmet when they met with accidents, reports TOI.

According to the new motor vehicles act, both the rider and pillion must wear a helmet while travelling on a two-wheeler, at all times.

How exactly was Gujarat able to make changes to this strict law?

Reports claim that transport comes under the concurrent list, and this means that states via the legislative assemblies can amend the various provisions of the motor vehicles act. That's how the Gujarat government has been able to tweak the motor vehicles act, merely to satiate the citizens' whim, while completely overlooking their safety.

Even if the state government has changed the law for the sake of convenience, it is always advisable to wear a helmet while stepping out. The distance doesn't really matter, safety does!