No helmets yet: Pillion riders get 12-day reprieve in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: Though the helmet rule, which mandates that all riders and their pillions have to compulsorily wear the protective headgear, kicked in across Karnataka on Wednesday, Mangaluru riders will have 12 day breather. The rule will be enforced from February 1, says Mangaluru city Traffic Police assistant commissioner of police (Traffic) Uday Nayak. We are creating awareness among the general public about the need for pillion to wear helmets for safety,'' he said. This temporary reprieve will also give the riders much needed time to purchase helmets. Surprisingly, the demand has not shot up here, but is slowly picking up. Reggie Roche, owner of motor accessories on Balmatta road says: There is no spike in demand. But we have enough helmets to cater to the demand. Regarding helmets for kids, Roche said: We have ISI (Bureau of Indian Standards) helmets for children above the age of 12. For kids below the age of 12, there is no agency which manufactures ISI helmets. We have helmets even for kids below the age of 12 which are better than ISI certified ones. Even otherwise parents have ensured that their school going kids here have been wearing protective headgear (helmets) which are not ISI certified. There are plenty of ISI helmets available in the market priced in the range of Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 for full and open face. Nayak says: In case customers feel helmets are way too expensive here they can get it online at good prices. The moratorium will help them get the helmets online. Harish K, who found the helmets sold by local shops way too expensive, is scouting online for good deals. With Republic Day sales coming from Thursday, I'm keeping my fingers crossed to get a good deal on helmets,'' he said. If pillion is found without a helmet, traffic police will penalize the rider and also crackdown against those wearing sub-standard headgear (without an ISI mark). While the first violation will draw a fine of Rs 100, a second one will lead to a penalty of Rs 300. Any subsequent violations could result in suspension of the rider's driving licence. Regarding non-ISI helmets, Nayak said first the drive will try to ensure about wearing standardised protective gear. They should realise that skimping on a few hundred rupees will not only endanger their lives but also in the long run, the fine amount will be more than the cost of buying a ISI mark helmet,'' he said urging public to buy ISI mark helmets.