Make helmets must for women pillion riders in Delhi: NGO

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) Women riding pillion on two-wheelers must also be asked to wear helmets in the city, said an NGO Sunday, urging the Delhi government to make helmets mandatory for all.

International Road Federation (IRF), which has been campaigning for helmets for all, suggested amendment to the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules 1993.

“IRF has been campaigning for wearing of helmet by all sections of society irrespective of their caste, religion, creed and gender,” said K.K. Kapila, chairman, IRF.

“The Central Motor Vehicles Act has the provision of compulsory wearing of helmet by all pillion riders on two-wheelers, but the Delhi government made it optional in its rules and informed the Delhi High Court about its inability to amend them citing it as a sensitive issue,” he said, in a statement issued here.

Giving the example of Punjab, where it is mandatory for all two-wheeler drivers and pillion riders to wear helmets, the IRF urged the Delhi government to implement its suggestion.

Countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Uganda had adopted a global initiative on helmets for all and it had yielded positive results, the IRF chairman said.

IANS 2012-12-16 19:58:03