Panaji (Goa): The Goa Traffic Department took a major U-turn after it amended its own order that strictly enforced wearing of helmets by both – riders and pillion riders.

It was during the morning hours that Traffic SP Devesh Kumar Mahla spoke of imposing fines to the rule’s violators but toned down the stand in the evening.

“All two wheeler riders and pillion riders are appealed to compulsorily wear helmet and fasten the helmet strap while riding a two wheeler, to save their previous lives in the event of Motor Vehicle accident. The rider and the pillion rider shall also be prosecuted for not wearing helmet while riding a two wheeler,” Mahla had said in the first press release.

He had justified the order pointing at grim figures of road accidents wherein 2016 year saw that out of 336 persons killed in the road accidents, 228 were motorcyclists of whom 186 were riders and 42 pillions. In the first five months of 2017, out of 144 persons killed 103 were motorists that included 90 riders and 13 pillion riders.

But in the evening Mahla circulated a message that wearing of helmets for pillion riders is not mandatory. “Strict implementation is not possible without amendment. Hence, we will only advise people to wear it as we are losing many lives,” he said.

Team TNV