In a bid to encourage motorcyclists to wear helmets and curb the number of accidents in the State, ISI-approved helmets are to be given free of cost to owners of two-wheelers at the time of delivery of vehicles from April 1.
Besides the helmet, front and rear number plate for displaying registration number, rear-view mirror, saree guard, crash guard and handle grip for pillion riders will be provided free of cost by vehicle manufacturers to owners.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of motorcycle manufacturers convened by State Transport and Road Safety Commissioner Tomin J. Thachankary in the capital on Tuesday.
The vehicle manufacturers have been told not to charge two-wheeler owners for the accessories.
The Motor Vehicles Department had received complaints that the dealers were taking money even for providing number plates to the vehicles. The manufacturers have been told that their authority for sale in the State will be cancelled if the accessories were not provided free of cost.
The Transport Commissioner said the decision to provide ISI-approved helmets was taken in view of mounting fatalities involving two-wheeler riders in the State. Two-wheelers continue to trouble the police and the MVD with 20,434 accidents taking place last year.
The highest number of 3,762 accidents involving motorcyclists took place in the capital in 2015, according to the State Crime Records Bureau’s road accident statistics.
The vehicle manufacturers have been told that they cannot insist on motorcycle owners choosing a particular insurance firm.
The registered owners have the right to select the firm.
The MVD has also asked manufacturers to find a solution to deactivate Bluetooth facility on mobile phone while the motorcyclist possessing it is driving the vehicle.
