After Noida, Madhya Pradesh pulls up violators of helmet rule; to register your vehicle, do this first

After issuing the directive about the mandatory purchase of two helmets on Thursday, Transport Department said that it has been done keeping in mind the safety of the rider and the companion.

Only 34 per cent two wheeler-riders obey helmet rules in India. (Image: Representational/ PTI)

Bhopal: In order to ensure safety of two-wheeler riders in Madhya Pradesh, the state government has made its compulsory for buyers to first purchase two helmets and show the receipt to the Transport Department to get their vehicle registered. After issuing the directive about the mandatory purchase of two helmets on Thursday, Transport Department said that it has been done keeping in mind the safety of the rider and the companion. "Keeping in mind the safety of two-wheeler driver and companion, we have issued directions to sellers to provide two helmets to new vehicle buyers in the state including Bhopal. Transport Department officials have also been directed not to register any vehicle without seeing the receipt of purchase of two helmets," Commissioner Shailendra Shrivastava told news agency IANS. "The court had issued direction in this regard. Thereafter, the Transport Department had also directed to ensure the implementation of the order on September 5, 2014. In spite of this, the orders could not be followed," Shrivastava said. Citing the Motor Vehicle Act 1988, the Transport Commissioner said: "One would only be allowed to wear a helmet made under Bureau of Indian Standards' recommendations following safety concerns." As per a report, only 34 per cent two wheeler-riders obey helmet rules in India which has led to a massive increase in death while road accidents. Several state governments have been mulling over the safety of two wheeler riders. For a similar cause, Noida road authority from June 1 made it mandatory for petrol pumps to give fuel only to those two-wheeler riders having helmet. Two-wheeler riders without helmets does not get fuel at filling stations in Noida and Greater Noida. "Those who reach your fuel stations without a helmet should be told that they will only get fuel if they wear a helmet. This practice will be implemented from June 1 in Noida and Greater Noida cities initially," District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Sing told news agency PTI. The administration also called on the owners of the filling stations to ensure the installation of good quality CCTV cameras on their premises so that in case of any dispute, footage of the incident could be readily available. According to the Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler is a violation of the law and can draw imprisonment up to six months under Indian Penal Code section 188.