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The Karnataka state government has filed an affidavit before the High Court to ban pillion riding on two-wheelers that have an engine capacity of 100 cc or below.
It is expected that the official circular may be out in a week's time from High Court. Yet, this ban will not be applicable for the existing bikes but for any new bikes to be sold. Even the manufacturers have to produce 100cc and below 100 cc bikes with a single seat only according to the news source.
The buyers will also be prohibited to make provision for a pillion seat and will be penalised if they do so.
Taking into account the safety for the pillion riders, the transport department has decided to enforce the ban.
According to the source: Transport Minister HM Revanna:“The High Court of Karnataka had sought an explanation from the state government while hearing an accident case in which a youngster had died. Responding to the HC’s direction, we filed an affidavit that we will comply with the Motor Vehicles Act, which does not allow pillion riding on bikes up to 100 cc.”
A senior officer from the transport department said: “Going by the provisions of Motor Vehicles’ Act, any bike or scooter with an engine capacity up to 100 cc should not have provision for a pillion rider. However, these rules were relaxed based on the recommendations of Indian Road Congress. This will not be the case, henceforth.”
Transport commissioner B Dayananda said: “We have told the HC that we will comply with its direction and provisions under the Act. Under the rule, the vehicle manufacturer cannot provide seats for pillion rider. But the rule does not apply to bikes that are already in use. However, if anyone alters a newly purchased bike and makes way for another seat, it would amount to overloading and will be penalised.”
According to a traffic expert, pillion riders are often vulnerable. “While a majority of two-wheeler riders get away with minor fractures or injuries during an accident, pillion riders are often gravely injured. The government’s decision would make a difference on this account.”
This news has received mixed feedback from experts. Ashish Verma, transport expert and a faculty at Indian Institute of Science, told BM: “Why this, all of a sudden? If it was already a part of Motor Vehicles Act, then why was it not being enforced – among so many other rules. Take the helmet rule, for example. How effective is it? Take, for example, plastic ban. How serious are we? To my understanding, two-wheelers are meant for two people, irrespective of its engine capacity."
A retired IAS officer said: “Only after bringing to light the helmet enforcement, it was implemented. If something like this is there, then it should be enforced seriously. However, bikes are always for two and not more and this applies even to vehicles if 350 cc capacity. This is all done because a recognised institution would have tested and checked the capacity and other possible things.”
Prof Shanmukha Nagaraja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, RV College of Engineering, told BM: “The move is right. We had the Luna 50 CC and other such bikes. These are not meant to carry heavy loads… This rule should be enforced to ensure there are fewer accidents. But the concern now will be – will it spawn more vehicles on the road?”
Is this ban feasible? We are still struggling to enforce helmets for safe biking across the country. Will this ban really bring any change to road safety and number of accidents?
Source: bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
It is expected that the official circular may be out in a week's time from High Court. Yet, this ban will not be applicable for the existing bikes but for any new bikes to be sold. Even the manufacturers have to produce 100cc and below 100 cc bikes with a single seat only according to the news source.
The buyers will also be prohibited to make provision for a pillion seat and will be penalised if they do so.
Taking into account the safety for the pillion riders, the transport department has decided to enforce the ban.
According to the source: Transport Minister HM Revanna:“The High Court of Karnataka had sought an explanation from the state government while hearing an accident case in which a youngster had died. Responding to the HC’s direction, we filed an affidavit that we will comply with the Motor Vehicles Act, which does not allow pillion riding on bikes up to 100 cc.”
A senior officer from the transport department said: “Going by the provisions of Motor Vehicles’ Act, any bike or scooter with an engine capacity up to 100 cc should not have provision for a pillion rider. However, these rules were relaxed based on the recommendations of Indian Road Congress. This will not be the case, henceforth.”
Transport commissioner B Dayananda said: “We have told the HC that we will comply with its direction and provisions under the Act. Under the rule, the vehicle manufacturer cannot provide seats for pillion rider. But the rule does not apply to bikes that are already in use. However, if anyone alters a newly purchased bike and makes way for another seat, it would amount to overloading and will be penalised.”
According to a traffic expert, pillion riders are often vulnerable. “While a majority of two-wheeler riders get away with minor fractures or injuries during an accident, pillion riders are often gravely injured. The government’s decision would make a difference on this account.”
This news has received mixed feedback from experts. Ashish Verma, transport expert and a faculty at Indian Institute of Science, told BM: “Why this, all of a sudden? If it was already a part of Motor Vehicles Act, then why was it not being enforced – among so many other rules. Take the helmet rule, for example. How effective is it? Take, for example, plastic ban. How serious are we? To my understanding, two-wheelers are meant for two people, irrespective of its engine capacity."
A retired IAS officer said: “Only after bringing to light the helmet enforcement, it was implemented. If something like this is there, then it should be enforced seriously. However, bikes are always for two and not more and this applies even to vehicles if 350 cc capacity. This is all done because a recognised institution would have tested and checked the capacity and other possible things.”
Prof Shanmukha Nagaraja, Department of Mechanical Engineering, RV College of Engineering, told BM: “The move is right. We had the Luna 50 CC and other such bikes. These are not meant to carry heavy loads… This rule should be enforced to ensure there are fewer accidents. But the concern now will be – will it spawn more vehicles on the road?”
Is this ban feasible? We are still struggling to enforce helmets for safe biking across the country. Will this ban really bring any change to road safety and number of accidents?
Source: bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com
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