Delhi Traffic Police faces the herculean task of implementing the Delhi Government’s order that makes wearing helmets mandatory for women pillion riders.
However, as the order exempts Sikh women from wearing helmets, this diktat has put traffic cops in a fix and they are wondering how they will identify whether the woman riding pillion is a Sikh or not.
They also feel that exempting Sikh women from wearing helmets may prove to be a major impediment in the implementation of the order as women from other religions will also demand exemption.
As things stand, the Delhi Government’s notification making helmets compulsory for all women pillion riders except for Sikh women, has raised eyebrows in the Capital.
Significantly, the Delhi Traffic Police had on earlier occasions raised the red flag and asked the Government to make helmets compulsory for all women pillion riders irrespective of their religion.
Senior traffic officials believe that anyone who rides pillion should wear a helmet as it is good for their safety. It may be noted that in the year 2013 alone, 55 women pillion riders lost their lives whereas 269 were injured in two wheeler accidents.
“Had the notification stated that certain Sikh women who wear a headgear are to be exempted from wearing a helmet, it would have made more sense,” said a traffic police officer.
Traffic officials also contend that religion has got nothing to do with law and safety and if demands of a specific sect are fulfilled then other religions will also demand exemption from the same.
In fact, the Muslim community has also demanded exemption for their women as they wear the burqa which makes it difficult for them to wear a helmet.
According to the Traffic Police, “Not just Sikh women, but others also wear the Kada (bangle) so it is not a significant mark and it will be hard to identify who is a Sikh and who is not. Also identity cards are no criterion. There is no mark for any religion which is identifiable. Religion has got nothing to do with scientific and logical things.”
Senior Traffic officers will now write to the Transport Department seeking directions on how to implement the order. The Traffic Police began their prosecution drive soon after the notification was issued but are now also trying to teach women pillion riders about road safety.