Dangerous trend: 2-wheeler users riding without helmets increasing

Bengaluru: The number of two-wheeler riders riding without helmet is increasing despite the traffic police imposing stiff fines on violators. In the four months since the beginning of the year, 7.9 lakh cases of riders and pillion riders riding without helmets have been booked.

Though the city traffic police are conducting special drives and awareness programmes, people, especially youngsters, continue to ride without helmets. Over 75% of the cases are against the youngsters, a senior police officer said that.

As compared to 2016, when 36.20 lakh cases were booked, in 2017, 37.19 lakh cases were filed against riders and pillion riders riding without helmets.

In 2017, 20,19,924 riders and 16,99,716 pillion riders were booked and in 2016, 18,86,211 riders and 17,34,111 pillion riders were booked. This year, 4,19,347 riders and 3,74,400 pillion riders have been booked for riding without helmets.

A senior official said “Most of the youngsters do not realise the importance of wearing helmets and continue to ride without them. When we conduct special drives or routine checks, they don’t stop their vehicles and try to escape without realising that they are risking their own lives.”