Odisha: Helmet must for pillion rider too
BHUBANESWAR: From now on, the transport department will strictly implement helmet rules for pillion riders too. State transport authority (STA) said on Saturday that driving licence will be suspended if both the rider and pillion do not wear helmets.
According to section 129 of amended Motor Vehicles Act 2019, every person, above four years of age, driving or riding or being carried on a motorcycle of any class or description needs to wear protective headgear or helmet conforming to such standards as may be prescribed by the Central government.
The STA on Saturday tweeted that driving licence will be suspended if both the driver and the pillion rider do not wear helmets while riding motorcycles. Earlier, state transport minister Padmanabha Behera had announced that it is mandatory for pillion riders to wear helmets wearing helmets from March 1.
Though the government was trying to implement this amended MV Act from March, the Covid-19 situation and lockdown had changed the equation suddenly. Strict enforcement couldn’t take place according to the plan of the commerce and transport department in the state.
The STA said the driving licence will be suspended if the driver and pillion rider do not wear helmets. “Wearing helmet is a blessing in disguise for both driver and pillion rider of a motorcycle. If any accident occurs, both of them can get respite from severe head injury. People should obey the rule instead of arguing with traffic police,” said Damburu Subudhi from Khandagiri.
Recently, the state commerce and transport department had asked the DGP to strictly enforce the traffic rules and cancel the driving licence of the people driving vehicles without wearing helmets.