Helmet rule flouted by over 70% of riders across AP

Time of India

22-07-2025

Visakhapatnam: Nearly 74% of two-wheeler riders in urban areas and 78% in rural Andhra Pradesh violated helmet safety norms in 2024, according to a report by the Transportation Research and Injury Prevention (TRIP) Centre at IIT Delhi.
Alarmingly, over 98% of pillion riders — both urban and rural — failed to wear helmets last year.
Despite repeated awareness drives and clear mandates from the Committee on Road Safety and the government, helmet use remains sporadic among two-wheeler users across the state. This negligence contributed to 30–35% of road fatalities in Andhra Pradesh.
Within the Vizag police commissionerate limits alone, over five lakh helmet violations were reported in 2024.
Of the 8.72 lakh traffic infractions citywide, 57.6% — more than five lakh — were committed by riders traveling without helmets.
As per Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, both riders and pillion passengers must wear protective headgear conforming to BIS standards. However, a senior police official noted that widespread disregard for the law continues, placing many lives at risk. On average, the state sees six to eight road crash deaths daily due to non-use of helmets.
Ministry data shows 3,042 fatalities among two-wheeler users in 2022 — including 970 pillion riders — for not wearing headgear.
Most of the patients admitted to trauma centres across the state following road crashes were not wearing helmets at the time of the incident. This group comprises both two-wheeler drivers and pillion passengers who failed to wear helmets and consequently sustained serious injuries.
Authorities say only one to two percent of pillion riders in cities such as Vizag and Vijayawada wear helmets despite repeated appeals and warnings.
Officials expressed concern over the growing disregard for this vital safety practice.
Stringent enforcement and awareness campaigns have contributed to some drop in primary riders without helmets in Vizag. However, pillion riders seem to be ignoring their safety, which could prove fatal in case of road crashes. Despite the series of awareness campaigns, pillion riders continue to neglect this critical safety measure, said a senior police officer in Vizag.
GFX
Pillion riders top helmet violation chart
Section 129 of MV-Act says both rider and pillion rider on a two-wheeler must wear helmets, and failure to comply can result in a fine for the rider.
Vizag city police issued over nine lakh challans to two-wheeler riders for not wearing helmets in two years.
The enforcement officials book at least over 12 lakh cases in the state in a year for not wearing head-guard.
Helmetless pillion riders are just as vulnerable to head injuries in road crashes as the rider.
Parents to purchase helmets only for the rider, often neglect for the child
A BIS-certified helmets costs in between Rs1,500 and Rs5,000
The union government has mandated that all helmets show the ISI mark issued by the BIS
Nearly 900 to 1,000 pillion riders die in AP in road crashes for not wearing helmets
Police and RTA personnel plans to impose fines for pillions not wearing helmets