Helmet compulsory for pillion riders

Helmet compulsory for pillion riders:

Necessarily an Un-necessary stipulation

By

DebkumarBhadra

I cannot agree more that whenever a problem is brought to the notice of those at the helm, they don’t have to look anywhere or consult anyone. What they simply need to do is “jerk their knee” and dish out solution stunning everyone right from those at the lowest rung to the seasoned experts. No matter if the attempted solution proves to be far more calamitous than the problem itself, but they just do it. To give an idea of what I am trying to say, let me quote the example originated in an anecdote, set at the time of British rule of India which came to be known as cobra effect.

Concerned about the presence of venomous cobra snakes in Delhi, the government of the day came up with a novel solution offering bounty for every dead cobra. Initially this was a successful strategy as large numbers of snakes were killed for the reward. However some enterprising people saw this as an opportunity and began breeding cobras for earning reward. When the government became aware of this, the reward program was scrapped, causing the cobra breeders to set the “now-worthless” snakes free, resulting further increase in cobra population. Thus the apparent solution made the situation worse than before.

In a repeat of the classic cobra type template, the State Transport Authority (STA) of the island administration, as reported in the media “in a bid to push for better safety and to prevent bloodshed on the roads of this archipelago” decided to mandate fitting of Speed Limiting Devices (SLD’s) or Speed Governors for commercial vehicles overlooking the fact that island conditions and its roads are entirely different from those in the mainland. To make matters worse, it stipulated that Transport Buses and Passenger Cars will have a speed limit of 60 kmph while Goods Carriers, Oil Tankers will operate at speeds not more than 45 kmph in Islands.

Anyone with little knowledge of the working principle of Speed Limiting Devices (SLD’s) or Speed Governors know that SLD’s work by limiting air and fuel supply to the engine causing drop in speed and pickup once the pre-defined speed is reached.

Also it is common sense that heavy vehicles such as bus or cargo truck while moving upwards on a hill road, say for example the stretch of road from Chatham Police Station to GSSS Haddo, some amount of acceleration would be needed to keep the vehicle moving. But with SLD’s in place, acceleration will be curtailed resulting in slow movement and piling of heavy vehicles.

Under a heterogeneous mixture of vehicles, as seen in island roads, slow moving heavy vehicles (read bus and trucks fitted with SLD’s) would cause traffic snarls by obstructing movement of other vehicles behind it. This will create extremely dangerous situations since vehicles following behind (without SLD’s) would attempt to pass the slow moving ones by accelerating and or driving in the opposite lane.

The Hon’ble MP, A&N Parliamentary Constituency Shri BishnuPada Ray have very rightly pointed out that while mandating fixing of SLD authorities overlooked the ground realities prevailing in A&N Islands. Ironically, on his insistence a trial was conducted by the Director STS on the road from Chatham Police Station wherein a cargo loaded truck fitted with SLD set at 60 kmph [limit for such goods carrier is actually 45 kmph in these islands] was driven uphill.

According to a report carried in a local daily, during the trial fuel supply to the engine was found to be reduced by 30 - 40% causing loss of pick up and speed. White smoke was noticed, which the report says may cause fire. Lack of fuel supply as per requirement to climb steep hills for Number 1 & 2 Gear may cause engine failure among other technical problems. Had the speed of the vehicle been set to the prescribed 45 kmph, what would have been the result is perhaps anybody guess.

It is embarrassing that the Hon’ble MP had to publicly say that no consultation was held either with the A&N Islands Private Truck & Van Owners-cum-Driver's Association having 500 members nor with stakeholders or made any trial in steep road before mandating fixing of SLD’s through notification dated 25th January, 2018. From this it is aptly clear that the proposed solution not only failed, it in fact created a new set of problems.

Of late, news is coming out that keeping in view the concerns raised by stakeholders, the Central Government, is likely to revoke the mandatory requirement of speed governors for commercial vehicles, as reported by The Hindu in its web edition dated 14 June, 2018. It should be, at-least in the islands, stipulation must be based on ground realities and not based on what is being done elsewhere in the country.

Similar is the case with recent decision which made wearing of helmets compulsory for pillion riders. While enforcing the helmet rule on pillion riders, the authorities overlooked the fact that island conditions are entirely different from mainland. Riding on island road is a tricky affair; not just because of the undulating terrain. Those who drive would agree that one require good amount of skill to steer through repeated prevalence of steep slopes, sudden twists, sharp turns and blinding bends referred to as “jalebi ghumai” in local parlance. All elements repeating in jumbled order every 100 m serves as natural limiting device as far as speeding is concerned.

Also island road, in most of the cases is the only road and is either two-lane wide or even narrower. Therefore every vehicle be it two wheeler, auto rickshaws, car, taxi, truck, bus, apart from pedestrians, ruminating lazy cows, resting bulls, stray dogs, goats and their likes all would be using the same road. Thus even if someone desire to accelerate, it would eventually be cut short by appearance of one or the other element discussed above.

On a serious note, there is no disagreement that two wheelers are an economical, time saving and desirable mode of transport since it occupies less road space compared to other class of vehicles. It is for this reason a large section of the population prefer to ride a motorized two wheeler, most often with an elderly parent, spouse, children or a colleague riding pillion.This include commuting to workplace, market, to drop women folks to their destinations, children to school, parents to hospital and a variety of other destinations involving short distance travel.

With helmet rule made compulsory for pillion riders, a large section of the society will be inconvenienced. The most affected would be children for whom, a properly fitting crash helmet is neither available nor is it practical to put one.

On an earlier occasion I have done a detailed post on the efficacy of helmet vis-à-vis road safety which could be accessed by following this link, therefore am not burdening the readers by repeating it again, but certainly would like to point out that crash helmet’s protection ability is limited to marginal reduction in impact in case of simple, low speed falls. Contrary to attributed benefits, helmet in fact lessens peripheral vision and hearing ability which could turn simple traffic related situation worse.

Also evidence suggest that helmets do not prevent neck injuries and in fact may increase them due to its additional weight. In case of pillion riders, specifically children, women folks and senior citizens, there is every chance that the additional load of the helmet could result in neck injury even in instances of simple falls.

Keeping in view the terrain, narrow and crowded condition of roads,a good number of families despite owning a car prefer to use two wheelers for short distance travel. But with helmets made compulsory for pillion riders including women and children, all one would do is shift to car, making the traffic condition further worse.

A heterogeneous mixture of traffic on island roads comprising long chassis buses, trucks, cars, auto rickshaws, two wheelers all using the same road with pedestrians, as well as obstructive parking, poorly built and bad condition of roads are the factors that hamper smooth flow of traffic and eventually contribute to traffic snarls and accidents.

Focus must be on strategies aimed at reduction of accidents by removing the factors responsible for accidents rather than burdening or creating a new set of problem. Situation warrants adoption of modern traffic management systems and practices, incorporation of improved safety standards in design, construction, operation and regular maintenance of roads so that a smooth flow of traffic could be achieved.

In about a week from now the schools are going to re-open after summer vacation. With the new helmet rule in place, there will be complete mayhem on the street, specifically among the parents who till this time have been ferrying their children to schools on two wheelers. Neither a properly fitting helmet for children is available nor there is any guarantee that even if somebody manage to put one, life will be more secured, given the fact that island roads continue to be in a dilapidated condition.

Rules and regulations ought to be implemented in such a way that it help regulate and ensure smooth flow of traffic, not inconvenience or add new set of problems. Nor could there be any ambiguity since leaving scope for enforcement personnel to exercise discretion would lead to corruption. It is therefore incumbent upon the authorities to address the concerns arising out of non-availability of properly fitting helmet and the fear of neck injury due to heavy weight of helmets specifically on children, women folks and senior citizens riding pillion.