Helmets : Safety first, safe tea at home

Uncovered rider heads become pricey

Government raises the fine for no helmet to Rs.1000/-

If people make 'safety first' their motto while riding in Goa, then they can have 'safe tea' at home! "A helmet every day keeps your life at bay". Ever heard of the phrase? Well, I just coined it.

Goa roads are scenic and beautiful. They are smooth. What better way to enjoy the beautiful scenery and unpolluted air than a long ride on a bike. This ride can cost you your life, though, without a helmet. The number of fatalities involving two-wheelers is on the rise in Goa as per surveys conducted over the last few years. In most of these cases, it was noticed that riders had not worn helmets.

Aiming at reducing deaths by two-wheeler accidents, the Goa government has raised the fine of Rs.1000/- from just Rs.100/-, for not wearing helmets and entering 'no-entry' zones, as announced by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Transport, on his recent visit to the state.

"When the fine was Rs.100/- people did not seem to take the rule seriously. Therefore the Government has increased the fine to Rs.1000/-", said Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar.

Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated to Goa for its various infrastructure projects, including construction of roads, and providing safety and security for users of these roads.

Gadkari had a word of advice for riders, who he said should "think of their relatives at home" while riding on the roads.

A few tips to keep in mind while buying a helmet, as per the AAOS :

Snug. It does not slide from side-to-side or front-to-back.
Level. It is square on top of your head, covering the top of the forehead. It does not tilt in any direction.
Stable. The chinstrap keeps the helmet from rocking in any direction. Chinstraps should be replaced if any part of the buckle breaks. Otherwise, a helmet may fly off in an accident.

And yes, most importantly, buy an ISI marked helmet only, save your life, not your money.

What use is it if you lose your life? So wear your helmet and obey traffic rules. Set the trend for others to follow. 'It's always better to be safe than sorry'.