Helmets become compulsory across cities in Karnataka

The wearing of crash helmets for two wheeler riders has been made mandatory in Bangalore and five other cities of Karnataka with effect from November 1 this year.

After toying with the idea for more than three months in the wake of a High Court order, the coalition Government has finally taken a decision to enforce compulsory wearing of helmets in the cities of Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Gulbarga, Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum.

Making the announcement in Bangalore, Home Minister M P Prakash said pillion riders would be exempted from wearing helmets.

The helmet rule, which had been withdrawn more than thirteen years ago, returns after the High Court recommended the Government to ensure mandatory wearing of crash helmets to avoid injuries to the head during accident. Citing a report prepared by National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), which claimed that wearing helmets could have saved a number of lives, the High Court asked the Government to take a positive decision in the regard.

Though the Government chose to enforce the helmet rule in limits of all the six city corporations in Karnataka, the two-wheelers riders of Bellary have been given an exemption due to the high temperature in the region.