No helmet? You will lose DL for 3 months in Karnataka

BENGALURU: 20 October, 2020 (Bhatkallys News Beaurea) The Karnataka transport department has decided to suspend driving licences for three months if a two-wheeler rider is caught riding without a helmet. The move comes in the backdrop of an increase in the number of bikers being booked for not wearing helmets while riding. According to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, riding without a helmet will attract Rs 1,000 fine and a three-month suspension of the licence. The state had reduced the fine to Rs 500. Transport officials said the Supreme Court appointed committee on road safety held a video conferencing on October 14 and recommended stringent action against the violators. “Two-wheelers are more vulnerable to road accidents. They will have to pay fine and face a three-month DL suspension in case of a violation,” said a transport department official. At present, the driving licence of a person caught drunk-driving is suspended for six months. Karnataka has 1.6 crore registered two-wheelers and nearly 60 lakh of them are in Bengaluru. The number of cases by booked by Bengaluru traffic police against riders without helmet was 16.4 lakh in 2018, 20.3 lakh in 2019 and 20.7 lakh till September this year. Similarly, number of cases booked against pillion rider without helmet was 13.4 lakh in 2018, 12.9 lakh in 2019 and 12.5 lakh in 2020 (till September). A former transport department official said: “Not wearing helmet is a compoundable offence. Why should only riding without helmet attract three months of DL suspension? What about other violations — overspeeding and dangerous driving? This will lead to corruption as traffic cops may demand bribe for not sending the DL to transport department.”

Bengaluru’s joint commissioner (traffic) BR Ravikanthe Gowda welcomed the move and said it’ll deter bikers from riding without a helmet and reduce the number of deaths caused by accidents. “This is a step towards making our roads safe for all,” he added.[checklist][/checklist]