Riders find helmets a headache as sun beats down on city
BENGALURU: Here's a study on how the weather determines human behaviour. Well, if Bengaluru Traffic Police's numbers are any indication, helmet-less riding cases have nearly doubled since March when summer set in.
While around 6 lakh cases of helmet-less riding were booked in January and February (combined), March alone saw the number skyrocketing to over 4 lakh cases. The number in April is expected to be much more.
Besides, given the fine of Rs 100, many motorists prefer paying the penalty than ride with a helmet on. Shilpa Ragunandan, a homemaker in Jayanagar, is one of them."Earlier I used to wear a helmet whenever I dropped or picked up my children from school. But now, it is extremely difficult to wear a helmet in the afternoon and sometimes in the morning too. The situation is: I am ready to pay the fine but can't bear the temperature."
The intense heat in the past month the maximum has hovered over 36 degree Celsius -has had twowheeler riders scurrying for shade even at traffic signals. Rajendra Babu K, an advocate, argued that riding in a lawyer's (black) suit is hard enough. "Whenever I stop at a traffic signal, I take off my helmet and wear it back when the light turns green. Even then, the police have caught me," he said.
On April 24 last year, Bengaluru recorded its highest temperature of 39.2 degree Celsius, beating its previous high of 38.9 degree Celsius recorded on May 22, 1931.According to a bulletin issued by the met department, even after light showers, the city's temperature could cross 37-38 degree Celsuis in April.
Sidharth P, a delivery boy with an online shopping portal, says the police should exempt riders from hel mets during such warm weather. "I stop wearing a helmet soon after I reach a residential area," he says.
From January to March this year, the traffic police booked 5.64 lakh cases against riders and 4.61 lakh cases against pillion riders for breaking the helmet rule. While the total number of violations in the city (during the same period) was 25 lakh, interestingly, helmet-less riding is the single biggest traffic violation (with over 10 lakh cases).
Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic), R Hitendra, however, denied that helmet-less riding cases increased due to the warm weather. He said that the traffic police's enforcement was effective and, thereby, the huge number of bookings.
While around 6 lakh cases of helmet-less riding were booked in January and February (combined), March alone saw the number skyrocketing to over 4 lakh cases. The number in April is expected to be much more.
Besides, given the fine of Rs 100, many motorists prefer paying the penalty than ride with a helmet on. Shilpa Ragunandan, a homemaker in Jayanagar, is one of them."Earlier I used to wear a helmet whenever I dropped or picked up my children from school. But now, it is extremely difficult to wear a helmet in the afternoon and sometimes in the morning too. The situation is: I am ready to pay the fine but can't bear the temperature."
The intense heat in the past month the maximum has hovered over 36 degree Celsius -has had twowheeler riders scurrying for shade even at traffic signals. Rajendra Babu K, an advocate, argued that riding in a lawyer's (black) suit is hard enough. "Whenever I stop at a traffic signal, I take off my helmet and wear it back when the light turns green. Even then, the police have caught me," he said.
On April 24 last year, Bengaluru recorded its highest temperature of 39.2 degree Celsius, beating its previous high of 38.9 degree Celsius recorded on May 22, 1931.According to a bulletin issued by the met department, even after light showers, the city's temperature could cross 37-38 degree Celsuis in April.
Sidharth P, a delivery boy with an online shopping portal, says the police should exempt riders from hel mets during such warm weather. "I stop wearing a helmet soon after I reach a residential area," he says.
From January to March this year, the traffic police booked 5.64 lakh cases against riders and 4.61 lakh cases against pillion riders for breaking the helmet rule. While the total number of violations in the city (during the same period) was 25 lakh, interestingly, helmet-less riding is the single biggest traffic violation (with over 10 lakh cases).
Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic), R Hitendra, however, denied that helmet-less riding cases increased due to the warm weather. He said that the traffic police's enforcement was effective and, thereby, the huge number of bookings.
