Bikers make up half of Maharashtra road crash victims; 83% of them helmetless

MUMBAI: Eighty-three percent of all motorcyclists (5,868) killed in road crashes in Maharashtra in 2020 were not using helmets, shows a latest data report released by the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH).
Among the 4,878 helmetless two-wheeler users that died, 69% were riders and 31% were seated pillion. On Wednesday, the Mumbai Traffic Police had announced that a fortnight later, they would start a crackdown on pillion seaters not using a helmet. The MORTH report highlights the relevance of the police's campaign on non-helmet usage.

According to the report, over 39,500 road crash deaths across India in 2020 were caused due to non-helmet usage. Maharashtra alone contributed to 12% of these deaths.
Across Maharashtra, 2,625 pillion seaters suffered injuries in road crashes from not wearing helmets in 2020. In a direct impact of the Covid-induced lockdown, overall fatalities reduced drastically in 2020 in Mumbai (by 22%) and in Maharashtra (by 10%) as compared to pre-pandemic year 2019. MORTH data also showed that in Mumbai, pedestrians were the road users impacted the most (39% of fatalities).
39% of road crash fatalities in Mum are of pedestrians
Speeding was responsible for a large number of road crashes in Mumbai in 2020, shows data by the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH). Piyush Tewari of the non-profit SaveLIFE Foundation believes motorists hit the accelerator as streets were empty due to Covid restrictions in 2020. "But speeding continues even after lockdown lifted and there is a need for speed calming measures close to intersections," he said.
The MORTH data shows that a majority of the victims on two-wheelers were not wearing helmet. This highlights the relevance of the city police's campaign on non-helmet usage.
"As a pillion, one has very little reaction time as compared to the rider. So it is important that we, as a society, follow the helmet rule strictly," said George Aikara, CEO of the non-profit United Way Mumbai, adding that strict enforcement was bound to reduce fatalities. Aikara believes motorcyclists should not ferry children along if they do not have a child helmet. "Children are at a high risk of injuries as they are typically plonked on the fuel tanks of bikes while riding. We must not hesitate to invest in proper safety gear for them. Manufacturers could create brightly coloured helmets with cute designs which would make children excited to don them," Aikara said.
After the police's announcement about penalising pillion seaters for not using helmets, several motorcyclists were seen queuing up outside helmet shops. "Although the law existed, we decided to enforce it as pillion seaters have been injured in a number of road crashes in city and in some instances, they have lost lives," said DCP (traffic) Raj Tilak Roshan.
"In many Indian cities, including Delhi, helmet wearing has become a habit among pillion seaters and it's a good move to enforce the rule in Mumbai. Without a helmet, a motorcyclist is at a high risk of suffering head injuries which could result in death or disability. It remains to be seen how the law will be implemented on streets and whether e-challaning will create enough deterrence," said Dhawal Ashar, head (integrated transport and road safety) with WRI India.