Aug
19
Women, children have heads of steel
Filed Under Public Interest
India is brimming with the illogical, but this one really makes the head go bang-bang against the wall (and much worse as you read on): In the capital city New Delhi, pillion riders on two-wheelers have to wear helmets. Like in most other countries. But the law does not make it mandatory for women and children pillion riders to do so.
It would seem funny were it not a matter with consequences stretto the fatal. A few years, when the law making it mandatory for all pillion riders to wear helmets came into force in Delhi, there were howls of protest asking for women to be exempted. If I remember well, the Sikh community even said their women cannot cover their heads.
So the Government relented even without a full debate. No helmets for women, but surely for men. And the thought of children never seems to have crossed anyone’s mind. Or heart. But then again, how many of our leaders have a mind and a head for matters other than their selfish interests and greed?
What are we all thinking? Heads of women and children are made of steel? I don’t have the statistics here, but there are people dying in two-wheeler accidents daily. I even remember a man and his small daughter crying on the ring road many years ago. His family had been in an accident while on a scooter, and his wife died on the spot. He had her head in his lap. As expected, she was not wearing a helmet. Could have been saved had she been wearing one.
Bigger vehicle owner get harassed: If you have ever been involved in an accident, the police will tell you it is for the driver of the bigger vehicle to prove his innocence as per the Indian Penal Code. In other words, someone dies (perhaps unnecessarily) for not wearing a helmet, and it is for the car driver who crashed into the two-wheeler to explain things.
Helmets are not a fashion accessory; they have been designed to save our lives. It is not a macho or religious matter to decide about wearing one. Let’s get serious if we want to save more lives.
Do you think the law needs to be changed? Is there a case for filing a PIL? Leave a comment.
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2 Responses to “Women, children have heads of steel”
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This is indeed a terribly illogical ruling… I was shocked when I first learnt of it… It seemed too illogical to be true…
One of my relatives in a car had an accident with a man and a woman on a bike. The woman escaped with minor injuries, but as expected wasn’t wearing a helmet… All of us were thankful that the injuries were no more severe…
Have you heard from anyone else in this context?
The problem of our country india is that here many law makers are bunch of jokers. They make laws according to their own convenience and profit neglecting the facts of peoples safety and benefit.
And not just law makers but also here most of the peoples are fools who have meaning with looking good while driving instead of safety by wearing helmet.
I always see girls driving two wheelers on main roads and streets without helmets and once i was walking near by my home and two young girls of age around 16-17 and they were driving a scooty with a high speed and suddenly a speed braker came in their way and their scooty jumped and they both fallen behind me and smashed down on the road. Luckily they were safe with minor injuries cause it was street and no big vehicles were behind them. I had lifted them up…there smartness was out when they tasted the ground and definetely understood how things changes in seconds.
Once i was on the main road with my friend on bike…we both were wearing helmet. While driving we seen a girl who were also driving next to us… we asked “Madam where is your helmet” She smiled…but had no answer. It was the time when helmet made compulsory for everyone.
Many times seen on roads and also seen on tv the bike riders showing their stunts. There are many problems not just law but also thinking of peoples. Films, advertisements spoiling good thinkings among the youngesters. Fashion is the first preference and safety comes in last.
Penalty is just for name as there are corrupted police officials. You jump red light.. penalty is Rs.600 and the traffic police officer will offer you Rs.300 to let you go. So no seriousness in their jobs.
Sikh boycotted the helmets for their ladies… ask them are they sure they will never meet an accident?
Laws just increase the beauty of books. Practically have no use no implementation.