Date:09.06.

2015

PMK Founder Dr. S. Ramadoss Statement

STRICTLY ENFORCE COMPULSORY HELMET RULE

Madras High Court Justice Kirupakaran in his judgement in a case for compensation for the family of
an accident victim who was not wearing helmet while riding, had ordered the Tamil Nadu government
to strictly enforce the order mandating wearing helmet while riding two wheelers.
The Madras High Court on the 9th January, 2007 ordered to enforce wearing helmet compulsory in
Tamil Nadu for those travelling in two wheelers to save lives. On the basis of this, Tamil Nadu
government issued an order making it compulsory to wear helmet while travelling in two wheelers.
100 months after passing the order the rule still remains in paper. It had become a recurrent story
that the government asks the Police to enforce the helmet rule strictly and then forgets the order
after a couple of weeks. When ADMK came to power in 2011 Police, started taking action against
those not wearing helmet while travelling in two wheelers. This was dropped after a couple of days.
6419 two wheeler riders died in the last year. 41,330 persons have lost their lives due to two wheeler
accidents in the last 10 years. Most of these lives could have been saved by helmets. Hence helmet
wearing is the single most important exercise to save lives of two wheeler riders.
There are a couple of reasons why helmet rule could not be implemented successfully in Tamil Nadu.
There are some inconveniences in wearing helmet, particularly for women. Hence majority in Tamil
Nadu does not like wearing helmet. Apart from this a section of the Tamil Nadu police see the helmet
rule as an opportunity to fleece two wheeler commuters rather than as a public health initiative.
Helmet rule is successfully implemented in Bangalore and the whole of Kerala for many years. The
reason is the determination of the police and administration. Highway cameras located at road
intersections record those travelling without helmets and police register cases and collect fine from
them. If anyone tries to influence the police and evade action their vehicles will be confiscated and
excess fine will be collected. Hence irrespective of their position everyone is abiding by the rules.
It is also said that the government will have to face the wrath of the people if the rule is strictly
implemented and vote bank politics is another major reason for non-implementation. Steps like

Date:
prohibiting smoking in public places, making wearing of helmet compulsory are lifesaving public health
initiatives. But they are not enforced strictly due to the short sightedness of the rulers. Public may be
reluctant to accept these efforts. But the government should not back step from implementing. The
government should engage in Information, Education and Communication activities (IEC) and act to
change the behavioural pattern of the citizens rather than trying to be punitive, to ensure success of
the helmet program.
Hence it should be made compulsory to wear helmet from the first of July, 2015. IEC activities should
be done from now onwards. Marking separate lanes for two wheelers, closing down liquors shops in
the state highways and district roads are other measures to save lives and reduce road traffic accidents.

Yours,

(Dr. S.Ramadoss)