It’s been only a few days since the deputy CM of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, inaugurated the long-closed Hebbal flyover in Bengaluru, and the Honda Dio he was riding already came under the scanner. Now, there is another violation — Helmet!
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar rides two-wheeler without proper helmet
The police and authorities have been cracking down on cases of unsafe helmets and those that do not meet ISI norms. However, one of the key figures in Karnataka, the deputy CM, is seen riding a scooter with a helmet that is not legal to wear. These half helmets are illegal, as per the authorities.
This raises a key question — if top officials who govern the state do not follow rules, how can the public expect to follow them? Why hasn’t any action been taken against the Deputy CM?
Moreover, the Honda Dio ridden by DK Shivakumar had pending fines of over Rs 18,000 for violating over 30 traffic rules. While this came to light, many were quick to back up the deputy CM, saying the scooter was only borrowed. While the fines have been paid and cleared, the helmet seems to have gone unnoticed.
Helmet laws in India
Indian authorities have mandated that all helmets sold in the country must be ISI-approved. This has lead to many well-established helmet makers exiting India owing to delays in ISI approvals. Helmets that meet the latest global standards, such as Arai, Shoei, Bell, HJC, and others, are not sold here for the same reason.
However, when a deputy CM rides a two-wheeler with a banned helmet, it is somehow okay. The police need to set an example by doing the right thing here — issue a fine. Also, the crackdown on sub-standard helmets needs to be more stringent, as road safety is a key concern in India.
This raises a serious concern about double standards in our governing system, when such influential people can get away scot-free for such major traffic violations like not wearing appropriate helmets or riding vehicles that have accumulated so many fines.
