Topic Approved.

Olias, what you have witnessed in 70s in UK, you will witness that the same phase is going on here in India currently. Not all state have helmet law neither police enforce it. No manufacturer is currently giving any kind of training, proper riding gears and kits but it might be a possibility that it comes into consoderation in next few years. I just hope.

The Indian law says that to ride a geared motorcycle and car, one need to be 18 and plus and to ride a non-greared scooter the minimum age is to be 16. Notice that there is no law which restrict a newbie to ride a higher cc non-geared bike which some time is equal or more powerful than the geared ones (ex. kinetic blaze scooter)

The licensing system is the most inefficient method in the country to allow a rider to ride a bike. there is no onroad training nor a test is conducted (except in few cities i think) to judge the skills of the new riders. You can submit the application with a fee and sit for a theory test which have set of questions not exactly prepared to gauge the mental riding ability of the applicant. You just need to remember few road signs (few of them are not even used now) and tick mark the right answers.

and yeah there is no "rider right" group or organization as well. talk about riders right infront of the cops and they will show their right of mishandling people in public

• There is no large scale riding school as yet in India alrthough in the car scene you will find some decent training schools like the Maruti Driving School.
• Local License Info: Transport Department Getting a license here is a joke and a matter of formality. It will only pay you in the long run as you can show it to the bribe hungry traffic cops everywhere. It in no way guarantees the rider knows riding, but proves that he street smart to get one.
• International license can be had in a day by going to a local RTO. They supposedly do a eye check amongst other basic checkups, but usually a tout in nexus with a quack doctor will write you a certificate even if you are blind. (ok that was a little exaggerated).
• Helmet law is state wise. In Delhi they have managed to enforce it quite well, specially in the main roads. But still you will see people , especially pillions riding without one. Again cultural and gender overrules this law : Sikhs who wear a turban and girls are not required to wear a helmet. But even girls are sometimes caught for not sporting a helmet in Delhi these days. The helmets are supposed to be ISI (Indian Standards Institute) certified, but 90% on the roads are cheap almost cardboard quality 2 GBP helmets! Even cricket helmets do these days. With superbike owners its the opposite, they would want to go with expensive helmets that match their bike, of course I am only talking about the show off kind, not the ones like Ken Cool!
  
  In other states helmet law is there but as AFAIK, a helmet law was supposed to be imposed in Chennai a couple of years ago but it was met with strong resentment and ultimately the government had to trace its step back and let people squash their heads on the paved roads.
  

Pulsater has answered most of your queries, thought I'd elaborate a bit more

True that 16 year olds are allowed to ride non geared motorcycles, but I distinctly remember in my Learners License there was some clause restricting the engine capacity to 50cc. The Learner's License (LLR) is a phase that you have to undergo before you attend your test. During this period, you're allowed on the roads only with a pillion who has a driving license. After 30days of having the LLR one can attend the test and as pulsater said, there's some theory, which isn't quite so important. Some RTO ( the body responsible..) insist on the rider being able to do a figure of 8, some RTOs don't give a damn about 2 wheeler test and skip directly to four wheeler tests. This follows a photo session using a webcam if you've passed the test. Reason why most people don't really look like they do in their driving license!

Now all this is the 'right' way to do it. Sadly though, there are 'Driving' Schools here which teach people to drive cars, not bikes and these guys act as middlemen and for a fee can help you get a license even if you've jelly legs and the hand to eye co-ordination of an assembly line robot.

Regarding the helmets, pulsater has been thorough there. Though in some states, cops do enforce the helmet law. So in a city like mine, it isn't surprising to see the number of riders with helmets on the rise after the law was passed, just atleast to avoid being fined and harassed by the cops.

Manufacturers haven't been active at all, in this regard. Some of them sponsor articles with regard to safer motorcycling in automotive magazines in the country. Thats a step. Now though, Yamaha has organized one workshop for safer riding. Then there's also the racing school organized by Yamaha with Bike India magazine, where once a month, Aspi Bathena ( the only Indian ever in IOMTT) educates owners of the Yamaha R15 on the finer aspects of racing.

Well, not enough, but a step ahead nevertheless.

Rider Rights group? I think you're looking at it already, xbhp.com. The biggest bunch of motorcycling enthusiasts in the country.

I am truly indebted to xbhpians!!!!

You are really providing me with great information of a quality I couldn't get anywhere else.

The more find out less I know!!! I have massive jobs ahead refining ALL this info so far.

I've just been reading a paper on green house gas emissions in Delhi being attributable to inefficient two-wheelers. I think I have to work in that fact to my dissertation and that by having a positive and growing two wheeled lifestyle culture with efficient machines from the manufacturers will allieviate that somewhat.

There are academic calls in recent (2007) papers for heavier taxation....

"Increase the cost of private car and motorcycle use through higher driver
licence and vehicle registration fees, higher petrol taxes, higher parking
charges, and roadway tolls, with some proportion of the revenue proceeds
earmarked for improvements to public transport, pedestrian, and cycling
facilities. "
Urban Transport Trends and Policies in China and India: Impacts of Rapid Economic Growth. Pucher 2007

The paper also calls for training.

My dissertation might just turn into a defence of biking in India as a lifestyle which promotes safe and efficient use of bikes!!!

You guys seem to value your bikes, treat them and the road with respect. As a growing/expanding & responsible culture you deserve the right to ride with fewer restrictions, not more!

The helmet rule is enforced in Bangalore too.
But purely from a 'cash flow for the cop' perspective
The cops dont care two hoots as long as their weekly income by means of bribes is met...

Actually Traffic cops are known as revenue generators for the economy. And why not? In developed countries probably per fine pays them an official commission plus some points, it gives the country legal tax payer money to spend more bettering the infrastructure.

here in India, cops are still revenue generators, when they do an Official challan, the government gets the money. When they dont and take a fraction of it as a bribe and let you go, they are just making up for the lowly salaries they are getting. the government doesnt have to raise their salaries since they do with the bribes.

Its a win win situation for any government in the world, the only difference is here in India, nobody learns whether they pay bribe or officially a challan.

In short there are no road etiquettes in force. The best thing you can notice is 'Order in Chaos'.

In fact the number of accidents that we witness on Indian roads is unbelievably small if you see how many accidents are averted due to a last moment maneuver from either of the possible candidates.

Though not directly applicable to this thread here are some unspoken laws that I mentioned elsewhere in context of riding superbikes in India:

Some random things which noted while riding a Superbike to the mountains (in India): (by Sundeep Gajjar [Sunny])

• Start off real early, always. Specially if you are in a metro city. Call center cabs have made us forget the meaning of really serene, quite and beautiful mornings.
  
• Carry two helmet visors along : One clear for early morning pre dawn and post dusk and one tinted for the day. Dont rely on shades, you could encounter dark long tunnels en route in the mountains which could leave you virtually blinded if you dont stop and take your shades off. With a visor you can simply pull it up while entering.
  
• Needless to say, dont overspeed, specially on relatively empty highways. If you go beyond 150kmph you yourself will be the one to blame if someone crossing the road causes a crash. In India, no one expects something to hurl at them at 200kmph!
  
• even on a green light be very cautious and keep a 360 degree watch. Similarly, early morning dont stop abruptly at a red light, specially in the middle of the width of the road, most of the drivers dont obey early morning signals due to sparse traffic and they might crash into you from behind.
  
• In general, on a highway it is safer to be faster than slower to the rest of the traffic.
  
• A 190 rear does not guarantee you more traction on loose gravel in the mountains because the contact patch is roughly the same as on Indian bikes having thinner rubber but the momentum is greater.
  
• Try taking corners at 2nd or 3rd gear in the mountains, specially if roads are not that good.
  
• Try to find a position in which you balance the load on your wrist and shoulders, don't stiffen your wrist, shocks from potholes could damage it in the long run.
  
• Try not to carry heavy stuff on your back, though this is one thing which I dont follow.
  
• On open and plain stretches loosen a bit by stretching a bit while riding the bike one leg and arm at a time. Do shoulder circles too. Blood circulation often falls to a minimum due to high pressure on the shoulders, wrists and thighs.
  
• Install a light on the visor. Under braking the lights (even when on high beam) angel down on the road failing to illuminate a substantial area ahead on the road despite of them being bright. This is a very dangerous thing.
  
• Choose your line well ahead of taking a blind turn, anything could be around the corner. Don't even think of changing lines in an emergency on a superbike on Indian mountain corners. Your luck might run out.
  

These points deserve a place in more than just this thread no?

Sunny and the others have more or less summed it up.

There is a bribe-induced system working in place. The licensing is bribe induced. The law implementation, be it helmets, speeding, red-light jumping, are all bribe induced.

In Europe you drive on the right. In England you drive on the left. In India you drive ALL over the place. Here, you can often have a truck gallivanting in full throttle in the opposite direction on a 4 Lane expressway with scant regard or respect for fellow drivers/riders coz he knows he can get away by bribing or he has already bribed which has given him the license to drive thus!

You go out of Delhi and ride around the neighbouring states and you will notice that almost nobody sports a helmet. The one who sports one is called a "Mao-ist" or a Naxalite!

I do not agree with one of the points mentioned above regarding accidents. I was checking somewhere on the net. Statistics do show however that India has THE highest number of casualties resulting from road accidents on this planet taking into consideration all factors; the population density, area etc.

Driving License For A Non Geared Scooter/Scooty ?

What Is The Minimum Age To Get A Driving License For A Non Geared Scooter/Scooty ?

[Place :Noida,Uttar Pradesh] [Vehicle : TVS Scooty Streak]

Re: Driving License For A Non Geared Scooter/Scooty ?

Approved and merged!