From April 3, 2001, the rule regarding the wearing of the safety helmet
will no longer be the joke that it used to be so far. The government
is determinted to implement the Motor Vehicle Act fully, unlike all
the other Acts in which they have proved lax so far. The massive
two-wheeler community is, however, not really pleased with
the prospects of wearing the daily weight on the head for
one reason or the other.

HELMETS for two-wheeler riders and their pillions have attracted wide attention in Goa again, with the Directorate of Transport gearing up enthusiastically to enforce the Motor Vehicles Act in toto, making helmet wearing compulsory throughout Goa from April 3, 2001, onwards. But wearing of helmets, many feel, will hardly improve the smooth flow of the vehicular traffic on Goa's killing fields--the narrow, pot-holed and dug-for-slow-work roads--which claim virtually one life per day.

So before Goa's harassed two-wheeler riding fraternity rushes to the longing dealer to procure the protective headgear and wear its daily weight, comanisations are busy beefing up public opinion to confront the government with justifiable objections against the helmet rule.

The two-wheelers take off a sizeable part of the burgeoning pressure on the public transport system in the State. The middle class, unable to afford cars, took to motorcycles and scooters after waiting for too long for regular bus transport, particularly in the far-flung villages. For office-goers, factory workers, students, small businessmen, doctors, salespersons, housewives to reach her kids to school or proceeding to the market, Catholic priests and Hindu bhatts…the two-wheeler has proved cheaper to own and maintain. The vehicle is also small enough to be maneuvered or parked on the congested, chaotic and narrow city streets.

All those 1.5 lakh odd two-wheeler owners have to put up with accident hazards due to the inept government departments which fail to maintain the roads or dig the roads the moment they are repaired and ignore the excavation once their job is done. Hence traffic jams punctuate the thoroughfare at regular distances but the traffic cops can't reach in time to avoid the constant traffic snarls despite their lovely vans and motorbikes.

For one's personal safety, and to ensure that the head's not hurt too badly, in the event of an accident, helmet wearing is understandable. We know of several people who have been riding a two-wheeler without causing an accident or getting hurt for the last 40 years or more. (The writer has been doing it since 1968.) They haven't worn the helmet during the long period, except for brief spells in the recent past when the transport authorities feigned to implement the relevant Motor Vehicles Act, and helped the helmet dealer unload his unsold goods on the unsuspecting public. Of course, that does not mean that a two-wheeler rider can always get away safely, and alive, through the chaotic traffic bristling with daredevil drivers on Goa's notorious pot-holed roads, which have been termed as killing fields. So the rider eventually, unwillingly consents to the helmet rule.

But what about the common man's wife and child, who ride the pillion? Right, even the wife agrees to don the weight (with her hair styled right if she is proceeding for a function!), what about the child in her arms or the one sitting on the motorcyle's tank or standing on the scooter's footboard?

Goa's villages may have tavernas at every corner but lack several basic facilities from market to medical care. Will the old and the sick, being rushed to the city for medical care, be able to bear the weight of the headgear, when they can't even keep their head steady? Will the unfortunate traveller, who has missed the last bus, often for no fault of hers or his, have to carry a helmet to avail of a lift from a kindly two-wheeler rider?

Many tourists, who come down for short stays, like to discover Goa's natural beauty on a motorcycle. Will they have to travel with a helmet or spent Rs.375 to Rs.400 on one just for a week? As far as Goa is concerned, the list of pertinent questions is quite long, because of which the two-wheeler has emerged as the main mode of transport for Goa's large middle class. The helmet rule may only help the traffic personnel to harass motorcyclists and scooterists.

HELMETS FOR 'PILOTS'

Goa is a land of peculiarities and exceptions. Figuring on Goa's long list of queer things is the unique profession of motorcycle taxi 'pilots' or riders. There are nearly 4,000 such 'pilots' who earn their livelihood by transporting people on short and long rides, and sustain their households to tide over unemployment.

"Whether we, the self-employed 'pilots', agree to sacrifice Rs.375 or more to purchase a helmet. But that's only half the solution. Our passengers won't come with a helmet, we will have to provide the helmet. Suppose we give him or her a helmet, will they wear the stinking headgear, which has crowned so many sweating heads earlier?" asks Bernard, who has been transporting people on his motorcycle for nearly 20 years at one of Mapusa's motorcycle stands.

Of course, several of the older 'pilots', whom we contacted in Bardez, regarding the helmet rule, don't even believe that it will ever become a reality or that the police will be able to implement it fully without jeopardising the livelihood of thousands of their type. The Bardez 'pilots' are rather uncomanised as they have never felt the need to band under any association or union. The more concerned motor-cycle taxi riders, however, fear that they will lose business, if the pillion is compelled to use a helmet, according to Ramnath Naik, president of the Vishal Taxi Pilot Union, Margao. The Union has 70 registered 'pilots' and there are more than 300 others who ply the vehicles without valid taxi licences.

A bit costly but a convenient service to many, Goa's unique mode of transport helps the hardworking motor-cycle taxi riders earn their daily bread. They take passengers to short trips within the city or nearby village. They come handy for people in hurry and those who have missed the last bus. The 'pilots' are the hot favourites of the European tourists as well as the upcountry ones.

With the impending helmet rule, they fear the prospects of losing their valuable clientele. The passengers unwilling to wear the helmet, may walk away, deciding to foot the distance if the destination is within walking distance or catch the bus. That would mean lost business, which fetches from Rs.150 to Rs.200, after slogging it out in the sun and rain for a full day, and even a part of the night at times. They are already facing trying times with some government servants, and even some police personnel, transporting passengers during their off-duty hours.

Gurunath Kelekar, the convenor of the Movement of Amity towards Roads in Goa (MAARG) opines that it is the State government's prerogative to amend the rule suitably to save the livelihood the motorcycle pilot by exempting a helmet for the pillion rider. But, so far, the authorities have proved totally oblivious of the particular transport sector, even after having issued them a licence.

The beleaguered 'pilots' are now wondering how their passengers will take to the forthcoming helmet regulation. The police look the other way, when several ills occur and illegalities are practiced…After all the noise, which was drummed up by the new government, the illegal 'matka' continues, on passionate grounds. Could the authorities be a little more compassionate on the helmet score too?

"The government hasn't done anything for our motorcycle taxi business. We sweat at congested street corners in hot sun or rain. Has anyone thought of constructing a sheltered stand?" almost three of them snarled when asked why they are so discomanised.

MOVEMENT ON HELMET RULE

Objections to the helmet rule are now being aired by several fronts and there are concerted moves afoot to garner public opinion to ensure that the helmet rule does not affect the two-wheeler community too hard. At least four different outfits have joined the fray and are struggling to find a suitable solution to the vexing problem.

Aires Rodrigues, the former student leader and one who is involved with the World Wide Goans and always out to fight injustice, regrets the rise of the helmet controversy again. He has convened a meeting of two-wheeler riders and pillion riders at the Institute Menezes Braganza Hall in Panjim, on February 17. Rodrigues appreciates the government concern for the safety of the motorcyclists but feels that the government should also consider the hardships faced by the riders.

Rodrigues recalls the recent statement made by Transport Minister Pandurang Raut, after the BJP-led government came to power, that the helmet rule will not be forced on the people. He hopes that the government of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will honour the Raut's statement and leave to the discretion of the two-wheeler riders to decide whether to use the helmet or not. Chief Minister Parrikar, Transport Minister Raut and officers of the Transport Department have also been invited to attend the meeting. If the government does not relent to public opinion, the meeting will chalk out a plan of action.

The South-Goa Public Interest Action Group has also raised several objections to the helmet rule, pointing out that one can't leave the helmet behind when the vehicle is parked, because even parked vehicles are robbed in broad daylight. It has several other complaints too. The NGO would not mind helmets being made mandatory to the rider and the pillion only on National Highways No.17, 17-A and 4A. It has appealed for the exemption of wearing helmets within the municipal limits and the central market squares or 'tintos' in towns and villages, and within 500 metres in the outskirts. This, however, will not provide any solace to the two-wheeler driver, who will still have to juggle with two helmets.

The Goa Rajya Pravashi Sanghatna too has called for a meeting of two-wheeler riders and motor-cycle taxi drivers on February 11 at 4.30 pm at the T B Cunha Hall, to thrash out the problems arising out of the helmet rule and discuss the possibilities of preventing the government from imposing the helmet rule.

Two students had filed a public interest litigation to ensure that two-wheeler riders wear helmets along with their pillion riders. Another citizen filed an appeal against it and the High Court ruled it out in favour of the Motor Vehicle Act implementation with effect from April 3, 2001. More than 1.5 lakh people possessing two-wheelers and not even one-tenth of the figure wearing the safety helmets while riding. Several comanisations are pitted against the helmet rule. Hence, if the government does not pay heed to public opinion, the simmering discontent may come to a boil with another public agitation.

Joel D'Souza