1,100 women fined for not wearing helmet in Panchkula

PANCHKULA: In order to ensure safety of women riding two-wheeler, the Panchkula traffic police have issued over 1,100 challans to women for not wearing helmet in the last two months. Following the directions of Punjab and Haryana high court to ensure compliance by the enforcement agencies under the Motor Vehicle Act, the cops have fined as many as 1,100 women.

In a statement released, the officials of Haryana transport department said that they were going to ensure compliance to the Supreme Court's order throughout the state, including Panchkula. Under the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 and Haryana Motor Vehicle Rules 1993, they will ensure that helmets are worn by all.

The Panchkula traffic police said that they have been issuing challans to women riders since May this year. "It is mandatory for two-wheeler riders to wear headgear approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Violators will be fined by the traffic officials," said a traffic official.

It is learnt that people prescribed by chief medical officers (CMO) are exempted from wearing helmets. Similarly, turbaned Sikhs are exempted. As per the data collected by the Haryana transport department, as many as 4,03,907 riders and 1,50,855 pillion riders were issued challans in the state between January 1 and July 2018 for not wearing helmets. Out of these, 11,309 challans were issued to women during the period of May and June.

"We have been carrying out awareness drives to follow the SC's order," said Panchkula traffic police inspector, Suresh Kumar.