If you are a woman rider and not wearing a helmet in the national capital, chances are that if you get a challan (ticket) you could get beauty tips along with it.
In an attempt to make Delhi’s women riders and pillion riders wear helmets, Delhi Traffic Police personnel are extolling the beauty benefits of wearing helmets to women violators. Just the other day, when 28-year-old Aditi Mehrotra was caught riding pillion without a helmet at the Janpath traffic signal, she had little idea of how this could be harmful for her hair. “The traffic police personnel first gave me a challan and then started telling me how not wearing a helmet would allow the wind to blow pollutants into my hair and as a result my hair would become dry and brittle,” Ms. Mehrotra recalled. The official then went on to tell Ms. Mehrotra, “Madam, if not for safety wear a helmet next time for beauty’s sake.”
Many traffic districts are trying this tack to increase helmet compliance among women. Some officials are also telling women how they can accessorise their helmets with their clothes.
“I do not know much about the latest style but I try to tell young girls who do not wear helmets how there are colourful helmets available in the market which will make them look good and also save them in an accident,” explained Sukhbir Singh Channa, a head constable deployed near the Udyog Bhawan traffic signal.
In 2016, though the traffic challans issued for helmet violations increased to 3.5 lakh from 2.23 lakh in 2015, the share of women violaters of the helmet rule has remained only 4,321.
“We hear all kinds of excuses from women who ride pillion without helmets. Our attempt is towards implementing the rule so that people can be safe in case of accidents. So along with challaning violators we also educate them,” reasoned Garima Bhatnagar, Joint CP (traffic).
A UN study showed that 15,000 lives across the world can be saved each year if two-wheeler riders start wearing helmets. The study also projects that between 2008 and 2020, 34 lakh people might die.
