• City riders unaware that helmets are mandatory for pillion riders
• The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety has made it compulsory for both riders and pillion riders to wear helmets since 2015
• 27,495 cases of riders not wearing helmets were reported till October 2017 this year
• Rs 24,49,400 collected as fines till October 2017 for not wearing helmets
• Till October 2017, 80 people have been killed in two-wheeler accidents; 26 of them were pillion riders
• DC orders punitive action against riders not wearing helmets
• Police claim drunken driving cases reducing but party goers feel they can drive quite freely at night after getting drunk
• 4,020 driving licenses suspended for drunk driving and using mobile phones while driving till October 2017
Though the city traffic police claimed that helmets are mandatory for pillion riders, many riders in Guwahati are unaware of the rule.
A two-wheeler rider, Akash Bora said, “I was slapped Rs 100 as fine because the person sitting behind me was not wearing a helmet.” He added that he has been riding a bike for many years in Guwahati and was unaware that pillion riders have to wear helmets.
Similarly, many riders in the city are unaware of the rule.
Reacting to the issue, DCP (Traffic) Amanjeet Kaur said, “The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety has made it compulsory for both riders and pillion riders to wear helmets since 2015.”
The DCP also said that as per Motor Vehicle Act the rule is clearly mentioned on the bike registration certificate and driving license.
In 2017, from January till October, 27,495 cases of riders not wearing helmets were reported.
The traffic department generated Rs 24,49,400 from fines between January 2017 and October 2017 from riders not wearing helmets.
80 people were killed between January 2017 and October 2017 in two-wheeler accidents, out of which 26 were pillion riders.
Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro), M Angamuthu, in a recent meeting of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), ordered the traffic police to act against riders not wearing helmets. He also asked the transport department and the traffic police to jointly prepare a strategy to make sure that everyone in the city wears helmets while riding bikes.
The traffic department will soon carry out a huge campaign to inform the riders that helmets are mandatory for both the rider and the pillion rider.
4,020 licenses suspended till Oct for drunken driving & mobile phone use
The traffic police suspended 4,020 driving licenses for drunk driving and using mobile phones while driving.
A source in the traffic department said, “The licenses are suspended for six months,” adding that the drivers need to update the license after six months from the District Transport Office (DTO). For six months the drivers cannot drive.
The source claimed that drunken driving cases are gradually reducing in the city but mobile phone use while driving is increasing.
Till October end this year, 1,595 cases of mobile phone use while driving were detected.
The police might claim that the cases of drunken driving are reducing but Guwahatians hardly witness any checking at night.
A city-based party goer said, “I had to go to Vivanta by Taj for a party recently and my driver was absent.” He added that while returning he was fairly tipsy and was driving to Kharguli with the fear that he would be caught by the police for drunken driving. He said, “From Six Mile to Kharguli I did not encounter a single policeman or patrol party around 1 am.”
Similarly, many party goers feel that the police keep a check on drunken driving only during festivals, VIP visits and Independence/Republic day.
