Helmet is about road safety, not religion or gender

Asking women to use helmet while driving is a move worth appreciating. No exemption should be given on the basis of religious. Only men and women with turban can be exempted but merely being a Sikh without turban should not entitle one to avail the exemption. Hairstyles and religious rituals pertaining to any religion are lame excuses. When we demand equal rights, we must abide by equal duties. Religion should not be a hindrance as far as the safety is concerned. It cannot be the basis for the formulation of any law.

Upasana Bhargava

A welcome move

Making helmet compulsory for women is a good move in the backdrop of rising accidents. We must remember that prevention is better than cure. It is for their safety. An accident, whether minor or fatal, does not distinguish between male or female. It is a daunting task to identify the Sikh women who have been exempted. Strict adherence to the guideline will save many precious lives.

Veena Mahajan

Spread awareness

Precious lives are being lost in road accidents. The police, during the issuance of a driving licence, must apprise people as to how people suffer after refusing to use a helmet while driving. The licencee should give an undertaking that he or she will always drive a two-wheeler only after wearing a helmet.

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh

Be strict, penalise the violators 

The decision of the UT Administration, making helmet mandatory for women two-wheeler riders, is a welcome step to save innocent lives in road mishaps. However, the exemption extended on medical grounds and to Sikh women does not stand the test of logic as it does not ensure safety to their lives. The dispensation, instead of giving the leeway, should sensitise women riders to sport helmet. NGOs may be roped in to spread the message of safe driving. The dispensation needs to observe zero tolerance with regard to the violation of traffic rules. Strict laws, with their proper implementation, will ensure the safety of women on the roads and save innocent lives.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

Make driving test tough

Precious lives have been lost in mishaps due to the non-use of a helmet while driving. So, it is a welcome step by the UT Administration. Some women have been wearing helmet voluntarily and commuting safely on two-wheelers. Some of them have survived near fatal accidents because of wearing a helmet. Most importantly, riders should be made aware of the traffic rules. The authorities should make the driving test tough.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma

Don’t provide exemption on religious grounds

The steps taken by the Chandigarh Administration are praiseworthy. However, no exemption should be granted on religious grounds. In case of any emergency, the affected person must be attended on the spot by medical teams, who should deployed throughout the city so that an injured person is shifted the nearest government or private hospital.

Tilak Laroiya, Mohali

Be tough with offenders

Whoever rides a two-wheeler, must wear a helmet. Women do not have heads made of stainless steel. Why should they be exempted from wearing helmet while riding a scooter or motorcycle on any ground whatsoever? In the US, I see even cyclists wearing special headgears. Strictness in implementing traffic rules is required. All traffic offenders, men or women, should be sent to 14-day judicial custody with a hefty fine of Rs 10,000. CCTV cameras should function 24x7 at every light point to detect corruption on the road.

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh

Amend motor           vehicle rules

Two-wheelers are extremely vulnerable to accidents in the city. The motor vehicle rules must be amended to make it compulsory for women to wear helmets and also make it mandatory for them to wear helmet while riding pillion, thereby reducing road fatalities, involving women commuters. There should be a uniform law for all people, irrespective of their caste, creed, gender and religion. A woman is the centre of every household and any mishap can lead to a complete breakdown of the family. Women should realise that it is for their own safety. Campaigns to educate women on the necessity of wearing a helmet should be intensified. Educating people by way of advertisements and other public service initiatives is the need of the hour. Imposition of fine on the ones found driving without helmet can also help.

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

A must for one’s safety

A helmet is a protective headgear for all two-wheeler riders. Women are equally prone to accidents and must protect their precious life for the sake of their family. Religion does not forbid Sikh women from wearing a helmet. Therefore, all women should evaluate their existence/relevance and adopt the safety measure, without any inhibition, to counter life-threatening accidents. Charity begins at home. Deployment of police personnel at peak hours is desirable.

Sardul Singh Dhawan

Post-violation, cancel driving licence for life

The driving licence of the offenders should be cancelled, which should not be revived during their lifetime. The vehicle in name of his or her family member should be confiscated and disposed of. Proceeds earned from it should go tothe  state treasury. A minimum fine of Rs 10,000 should be imposed on the offender.

GS Grover, Mohali

Good move

It is good that helmets are being made mandatory for all two-wheeler women riders. It is for their safety. In addition to it, those who drive in the middle of the road should be fined.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh

Make people follow           other restrictions too

Apart from making helmets mandatory, these should be ISI marked. In addition to it, harsh penalties need to be imposed on those four-wheeler drivers who indulge in rash or drunken driving. The use of mobile phone and not using indicators while driving should be taken seriously. People should also be made to comply with the speed limit.

Sham Murari Sharma, Chandigarh

Won’t help tackle fatalities 

Using a helmet, while driving, is just a safety measure. Wearing it should be made optional. Many two-wheeler drivers use helmet as a cap, which is more dangerous. Helmets have hardly protected drivers during accidents. The real culprits are rash drivers, who should be contained through harsher punishments.

MPS Chadha, Mohali

Commendable decision

The decision of making helmet compulsory for two-wheeler drivers is commendable. In case of an accident, the skull is most vulnerable part of the body, irrespective of the person driving, who may be from any sex, religion, cast or creed. Exemption on medical ground is also untenable. Although there is no guarantee that those who wear a helmet would survive in case of a mishap, yet in many cases, they survive.

Dr Vijay Kumar Soi, Chandigarh

Follow other norms too

Wearing a helmet, while driving a two-wheeler, reduces chances of a severe head injury during a mishap. A helmet is designed to protect a rider. It should be made compulsory with suggested exemptions. Other than helmet, all road safety rules should be followed faithfully. Real causes of accidents are jumping the red light, overspeeding, changing lanes without using indicators and involving in rash driving. The use of mobile phones while driving and drunken driving are also a major cause of accidents. Together, we should build a safe driving culture.

Kamalpreet Kaur, Mohali

Withdraw exemption              to Sikh women

Two-wheeler riders are more prone to head injuries. A helmet acts as a barrier, preventing a severe head injury, saving one’s life. So, wearing helmet should be made mandatory for women without any exemption to Sikh women.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Rules are same                       for everyone

Helmet should be made compulsory for all, except for those wearing a turban. These are for our own safety and there is no doubt that women’s safety is as important as that of men. On one hand, women demand equality in every sphere of life but on the other, refuse to comply with the traffic rules. There is no logical in framing different rules for women. Not wearing a helmet while driving should be dealt with seriously. Violators should be punished without discrimination.

Bubby Soin

Go beyond religious considerations

Rules should not be gender specific. A head injury in a road accident can be suffered by anyone, be it a woman or man. Therefore, wearing a helmet while driving should be made mandatory for every two-wheeler rider, irrespective of one’s gender. No one should be exempted on the basis of religion. Every woman must realise that it is for their own safety, let alone all other considerations.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

Reduce congestion

Women, who don’t wear a headgear, should wear a helmet. It is important for their safety on the road. City residents and school or college-going students should be made aware of the traffic-related facts and rules to prevent fatal accidents. The Administration and the Chandigarh Traffic Police should work on plans to reduce traffic congestion during the peak hours.

Priya Darsh Growar, Mohali

Check rash driving

I am of the firm opinion that a helmet must be made compulsory for women two-wheeler riders in Chandigarh and there should not exemption for anybody. Those who require exemption on medical ground, should not use two-wheelers and instead use the local transport. It has been observed that most fatal accidents take place due to rash driving. Strict action should be taken against such people. For this, boards must be put up in each corner of the city to highlight the maximum speed limit to be followed on the road.

Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra

Will reduce fatalities

In most two-wsheeler accidents, head injury causes deaths. It is therefore utmost important to prevent/minimise chances of head injury. Quite a large number of women are seen commuting on two-wheelers without wearing a proper headgear, thus putting their lives in danger. To prevent this, wearing a helmet should be made compulsory. However, wearing a helmet may not be made mandatory for Sikh women as wearing a helmet or any such headgear is against tenets of Sikhism. The commuters should not wear any non-specified headgear to hoodwink the police but support an ISI compliant helmet. This violation be treated as a cognisable offence.

SS Arora, Mohali

Safety comes first

With summers almost here, I am already seeing a lot of girls covering their face with a scarf. Protecting their face from the sun seems more important than saving oneself from any fatal head injury. Road accidents are not gender-biased. A woman won’t be hurt less if she meets a road accident. Wearing a helmet must be made compulsory for women and they should not just wear it when they see a cop around the corner. The rule is for their safety and it should be taken in full spirit. Parents should also make sure to not let their daughters go out on a ride without a helmet. Wear a helmet for your safety and not just to save yourself from a challan.

Komal Rehan, Dera Bassi

Take all into confidence

On a notice from the High Court, to check fatal incidents, the Chandigarh Administration has decided to make wearing a helmet while driving mandatory for women. No doubt, a helmet is necessary for ones’ safety, but in the past, due to protests from the Sikh community, because its religion does not permit to wear any such headgear, the Administration had exempted all women from wearing a helmet. It would, therefore, be in the interest of all that before taking any final decision, and placing it before the court, the Administration must initiate a dialogue with the Sikh community to find out a viable solution in this sensitive issue.

AS Ahuja, Chandigarh

Guide commuters about benefits of helmet

Everyone knows that Chandigarh is a beautiful and modern city and it has wide and smooth roads. Even then, so many accidents are taking place daily due to carelessness of commuters. Helmets have been made compulsory for all two- wheeler riders by the High Court. The Administration has decided to make it mandatory for women two-wheeler riders. All people love their life. They know very well the value and importance of a helmet. But so many riders do not like to wear it due to some untenable excuses. It is the duty of the Administration to protect the life of all citizens. It should guide commuters about the benefit of wearing a helmet by organising seminars/camps/workshops. However, exemption should be given only on medical grounds and baptised Sikh women. The law should be same for everyone. Everyone should obey the law. The Chandigarh Administration should implement all rules and regulations strictly.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Supporting helmet not against religion

Considering the quantum of traffic, traffic speed and types of road in the tricity, wearing helmets must be made compulsory in order to prevent head injuries, which are becoming a common cause of deaths in accidents. Wearing a helmet is for one’s safety. It won’t hurt religious sentiments. Asking for exemption on religious grounds is wrong. People should realise their responsibilities towards their loved ones. Women should wear helmet, giving a message of road safety to everyone.

Bhavesh Pahwa, Panchkula

One’s life more important

A large number of school/college-going girls keep their helmet in the scooter dickey and wear it only when they see a policeman. They again put it back in the dickey once the ‘threat’ is over. They do it just to avoid penalty. The realisation has to come from within. What is more important- hair style or life?  Definitely, life. This they realise on meeting with an accident and suffering head injuries. So, why learn at such a heavy cost?  Let’s make wearing a helmet compulsory for everyone, irrespective of one’s religion. Parents must ensure that their daughters wear a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. The police should not hesitate penalising those flouting the rules.

Col RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt  

Everybody prone to injury

Yes, it is a must that all drivers and those riding pillion should wear a helmet for safety reasons, irrespective of sex and religion. As everyone is prone to head injury, there is no question of exempting anyone on any grounds. I request the police to enforce this rule strictly. Either you wear proper turban or crash helmet. I strongly recommend that wearing a helmet must be made compulsory for two-wheeler riders. 

Col KJ Singh (retd)

Helmets should meet safety standards   

As we are aware that road accidents have become a routine affair, it is indeed a good step that the UT Administration has decided to make wearing a helmet mandatory for women too. But will it solve the problem? In most road accidents, deaths are due to head injuries. The only solution to solve this problem lies in making ISI-marked helmets compulsory, which are made according to the standards prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards. These standards are set after discussions and experiments involving a team of experts. The production of non-ISI marked helmets should be banned and persons involved in the production or sale of these should be severely punished as they put lives of lakhs of people in danger. The government should provide subsidy to the poor to purchase th