Helmets made compulsory for pillion riders in Odisha

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Oct 20, 2015 at 6:53 PM Updated On : Aug 24, 2017 at 3:07 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 20:

If you are a pillion rider and planning to hop between puja pandals this festive season, don’t forget to wear helmets as Odisha government has made helmets mandatory for pillion riders too.

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Moreover, on violation if you are caught by the police you risk of being detained for two hours and tutored on road safety apart from paying the requisite fine for the violation, according to a decision taken by the state government’s Transport department. Earlier, wearing of helmets by pillion riders in the state was not mandatory.

According to Transport department sources, the state government has to submit a report every month to the road safety committee constituted by the Supreme Court which has retired Justice Radhakrishnan as its chairperson. The committee formed by the apex court after it felt the immensity of perils of road mishaps is monitoring different programmes on road safety undertaken by different states, the sources added.

Further, driving licenses of drivers found to be exceeding speed limits, carrying more load than specified limits or carrying passengers in goods carrying vehicles, driving vehicles under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants or found to be using mobile phones while driving will be cancelled for a minimum period of three months. Besides, drivers driving vehicles under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants will face jail terms as prescribed in the law.

The state government has ordered all SPs for strict implementation of driving rules. A committee formed of Police and Transport department officials will every week at least once keep a watch on the activities of those who have violated traffic rules. These committees will submit details of driving licenses cancelled and how many persons penalized for violating traffic rules each month in a district to the Transport commissioner.

The commissioner will submit the report to the road safety committee constituted by the Supreme Court.