Helmet Rules

During the last week of June 2007, once again the helmet rule has been reinstated in Kerala. For the past three years, its been a seasonal phenomenon.

Its like a annual sacrifice the State Government does to the Helmet manufacturing companies to thrive! After a couple of months, the rule is pulled back when enough helmets are sold and the people become very loud and noisy. In a way placating both the producers and consumers while at the same time generating jobs, revenues and products :).

Well this year it has been brought on once again. Let us see how long this rule will stand valid!

Every year as if on cue, just when it seems no more helmets are selling, the Government suddenly wakes up imposes the Helmet rules. Suddenly Helmets are sold in rage! Roadside vendors sell cheap imitations that crack on the slightest fall and money is made by everyone. Who is concerned, if it works or does not protect? If you dont wear a helmet, the police coffers fill with Rs.100 each time. If you purchase one, the government gets 12.5% from a helmet and also the sales taxes, excise duty and so on.

As they say, the show must go on to rake in revenues...

Everytime I see this, I feel sorry for the people who do it each year due to the Government imposition of rules.

If you look at it, there was a rise in death due to accidents from 3200 odd people in 2005 to 3500 odd people in 2006 in Kerala.

Now as we all know statistics can be manipulated to lie. When the above figure is given, everyone says wow, if we can reduce the deaths due to head injury, well those numbers would dwindle.

But then ofcourse, they will forget to add the fact that :
a) Almost close to 200,000-300,000 bikes are sold incrementally in Kerala every year. (Rough figure!! random guess keeping in mind atleast 1 million vehicles are sold by each two wheeler company)
b) More than half the accidents occur due to reckless driving.
c) The government holds a major responsibility that despite charging 15 year taxes from the two wheeler sections, etc cannot develop the road infrastructure to match the growth in the sector.

Now who is to blame for the accidental deaths in Kerala? Lack of helmets?

I do hope you see the light here.

Our most basic cause of accidents in our state is because unlike other countries where drivers just need to focus on the vehicles ahead of them going in the same direction; We in India need to multi task & focus on potholes, opposite side incoming vehicles and finally unmarked humps, medians, cows and dashing pedestrians!

I am in no way trying to mitigate the life saving attributes of the helmet; but it has to be said that a helmet is comfortable for some to drive while for many others its a nuisance. People need to be given some sort of choice in this matter!

A possible compromise that comes to my mind is that for people going locally just to shop or so, wearing a helmet is a nuisance. According to me it is better advisable that a helmet should say be made compulsory only for drivers who are going on the national highways or state highways travelling long distances. Not for short shopping commutes or short trips less than 20 km from their homes...

Hope someone is hearing it....