New Delhi:
Over 5,000 woman bikers and pillion riders were challaned for not wearing helmet by the Delhi Traffic Police which started a special drive to ensure compliance of a law making wearing of helmets mandatory for the fairer sex.
"We have issued 5,200 challans to women riders and pillions till 8 PM for not wearing helmet during the special drive which started at 8 AM today" said Anil Shukla, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
Women (except Sikh women) who were not wearing helmets while riding a two-wheeler or riding pillion were prosecuted under the amended act, that made wearing of safety headgear mandatory for women in the national capital.
Till 5 PM, the total number of challans issued stood at 3,236, but it rose to 5,200 by 8 PM, the official said.
Hundred teams were deployed at institutional areas, office complexes, market places, malls, commercial centres and important intersections such as Nehru Place, Rajendra Place, Connaught Place, among others to ensure compliance of the law.
The Delhi government had on August 28 issued a notification making wearing of helmets mandatory for women with immediate effect. Sikh women have been exempted from it on religious grounds.
According to the earlier provision, it was optional for the women pillion rider to wear a helmet. The city government amended the rule 115 of the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993 to make the new provisions.
In 1998, the Delhi government had made wearing helmets mandatory for all pillion riders, but following objections from the people belonging to Sikh community, it had to amend the Delhi Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993 in June 1999 and had made it optional for women.
According to transport department, in Delhi alone, a total number of 576 two-wheeler riders lost their lives during 2012.