Time and again, one comes across hoardings and billboards spelling out messages on road safety and cautioning one on the fines imposed for breaking rules. In spite of all that, a cross- section of citizens continues to ride without helmets, go on triples and doing wheelies on roads. This can be life threatening, not just for them but for others too.
Pointing out that it's not at all cool to do so, Sakshi D Jain, a student of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, says that it is a dangerous practice. "Since the fine imposed is so less, a lot of people take advantage of this. The punishment for breaking traffic rules should be made stricter and a heavier amount should be imposed to take this as a serious offence. I have seen young boys riding without a helmet and suddenly do stunts like wheelies in the middle of the road. It is very frightening," she says.
People also find smart ways to escape the eye of the traffic police. Keeping the helmet between the feet or hanging it in the arms and wearing it when stopped by a cop are some of the easy ways to get away. Rohit Rajiv says riding a bike can be exciting even when one follows the rules.
He says helmets make one feel confident and knowing that they are safe is the best way to enjoy a ride. "I have seen a lot of people wear the half helmets around their neck, use a head mask or a skullcap that looks like a helmet from far. There are also those who are cunning enough to ride on the right side of the road next to a bus. They do this to escape the cops," he says.
He highlights that there have been times when people jump signals to avoid cops and then meet with an accident. Many youngsters feel not wearing a helmet is a cool thing to do. One can also spot a few of them with their earphones on, listening to loud music, completely unaware of what is happening around.
Sometimes people who ride without helmet tend to take a sudden U-turn on a one-way road when they see a cop, which is extremely dangerous and can lead to a collision with other vehicles. Selma Lobo says that stunts like these by young riders are not just confined to city roads but can be seen on highways as well.
"The mentality of breaking rules is common among youngsters. These law breakers are not just putting their own lives at risk but that of others too," opines Selma. Talking about this chaotic scene in the city, R Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), says, "Every day, we register a lot of cases against riders without helmets. The Central Motor Vehicle Act is in the process of being amended after which the fine amount will be increased. It has to be increased as that is the only way out. The present fine amount is too less and that is the reason people are not taking this seriously."
Pointing out that it's not at all cool to do so, Sakshi D Jain, a student of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, says that it is a dangerous practice. "Since the fine imposed is so less, a lot of people take advantage of this. The punishment for breaking traffic rules should be made stricter and a heavier amount should be imposed to take this as a serious offence. I have seen young boys riding without a helmet and suddenly do stunts like wheelies in the middle of the road. It is very frightening," she says.
People also find smart ways to escape the eye of the traffic police. Keeping the helmet between the feet or hanging it in the arms and wearing it when stopped by a cop are some of the easy ways to get away. Rohit Rajiv says riding a bike can be exciting even when one follows the rules.
He says helmets make one feel confident and knowing that they are safe is the best way to enjoy a ride. "I have seen a lot of people wear the half helmets around their neck, use a head mask or a skullcap that looks like a helmet from far. There are also those who are cunning enough to ride on the right side of the road next to a bus. They do this to escape the cops," he says.
He highlights that there have been times when people jump signals to avoid cops and then meet with an accident. Many youngsters feel not wearing a helmet is a cool thing to do. One can also spot a few of them with their earphones on, listening to loud music, completely unaware of what is happening around.
Sometimes people who ride without helmet tend to take a sudden U-turn on a one-way road when they see a cop, which is extremely dangerous and can lead to a collision with other vehicles. Selma Lobo says that stunts like these by young riders are not just confined to city roads but can be seen on highways as well.
"The mentality of breaking rules is common among youngsters. These law breakers are not just putting their own lives at risk but that of others too," opines Selma. Talking about this chaotic scene in the city, R Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), says, "Every day, we register a lot of cases against riders without helmets. The Central Motor Vehicle Act is in the process of being amended after which the fine amount will be increased. It has to be increased as that is the only way out. The present fine amount is too less and that is the reason people are not taking this seriously."
Time and again, one comes across hoardings and billboards spelling out messages on road safety and cautioning one on the fines imposed for breaking rules. In spite of all that, a cross- section of citizens continues to ride without helmets, go on triples and doing wheelies on roads. This can be life threatening, not just for them but for others too.
Pointing out that it’s not at all cool to do so, Sakshi D Jain, a student of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, says that it is a dangerous practice. "Since the fine imposed is so less, a lot of people take advantage of this. The punishment for breaking traffic rules should be made stricter and a heavier amount should be imposed to take this as a serious offence. I have seen young boys riding without a helmet and suddenly do stunts like wheelies in the middle of the road. It is very frightening,” she says.
People also find smart ways to escape the eye of the traffic police. Keeping the helmet between the feet or hanging it in the arms and wearing it when stopped by a cop are some of the easy ways to get away. Rohit Rajiv says riding a bike can be exciting even when one follows the rules.
He says helmets make one feel confident and knowing that they are safe is the best way to enjoy a ride. "I have seen a lot of people wear the half helmets around their neck, use a head mask or a skullcap that looks like a helmet from far. There are also those who are cunning enough to ride on the right side of the road next to a bus. They do this to escape the cops,” he says.
He highlights that there have been times when people jump signals to avoid cops and then meet with an accident. Many youngsters feel not wearing a helmet is a cool thing to do. One can also spot a few of them with their earphones on, listening to loud music, completely unaware of what is happening around.
Sometimes people who ride without helmet tend to take a sudden U-turn on a one-way road when they see a cop, which is extremely dangerous and can lead to a collision with other vehicles. Selma Lobo says that stunts like these by young riders are not just confined to city roads but can be seen on highways as well.
"The mentality of breaking rules is common among youngsters. These law breakers are not just putting their own lives at risk but that of others too,” opines Selma. Talking about this chaotic scene in the city, R Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), says, "Every day, we register a lot of cases against riders without helmets. The Central Motor Vehicle Act is in the process of being amended after which the fine amount will be increased. It has to be increased as that is the only way out. The present fine amount is too less and that is the reason people are not taking this seriously.”
Pointing out that it’s not at all cool to do so, Sakshi D Jain, a student of University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, says that it is a dangerous practice. "Since the fine imposed is so less, a lot of people take advantage of this. The punishment for breaking traffic rules should be made stricter and a heavier amount should be imposed to take this as a serious offence. I have seen young boys riding without a helmet and suddenly do stunts like wheelies in the middle of the road. It is very frightening,” she says.
People also find smart ways to escape the eye of the traffic police. Keeping the helmet between the feet or hanging it in the arms and wearing it when stopped by a cop are some of the easy ways to get away. Rohit Rajiv says riding a bike can be exciting even when one follows the rules.
He says helmets make one feel confident and knowing that they are safe is the best way to enjoy a ride. "I have seen a lot of people wear the half helmets around their neck, use a head mask or a skullcap that looks like a helmet from far. There are also those who are cunning enough to ride on the right side of the road next to a bus. They do this to escape the cops,” he says.
He highlights that there have been times when people jump signals to avoid cops and then meet with an accident. Many youngsters feel not wearing a helmet is a cool thing to do. One can also spot a few of them with their earphones on, listening to loud music, completely unaware of what is happening around.
Sometimes people who ride without helmet tend to take a sudden U-turn on a one-way road when they see a cop, which is extremely dangerous and can lead to a collision with other vehicles. Selma Lobo says that stunts like these by young riders are not just confined to city roads but can be seen on highways as well.
"The mentality of breaking rules is common among youngsters. These law breakers are not just putting their own lives at risk but that of others too,” opines Selma. Talking about this chaotic scene in the city, R Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), says, "Every day, we register a lot of cases against riders without helmets. The Central Motor Vehicle Act is in the process of being amended after which the fine amount will be increased. It has to be increased as that is the only way out. The present fine amount is too less and that is the reason people are not taking this seriously.”