Want two-wheeler licence? Sign bond saying you will wear helmet

Next time you get a two-wheeler licence, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) will make you sign an indemnity bond saying you will wear a helmet, according to high court guidelines.

This means if you are caught without a helmet, you will be directly answerable in court for contempt, and will not be let off with fine of Rs100, which was the norm.

Transport minister Diwakar Raote took the decision on Monday and gave directions to transport commissioner Mahesh Zagade to implement the plan.“We are doing this because people should get more responsible and follow traffic rules. Currently, if people are caught without helmets, the courts usually pull up officials for non-implementation of the rules. Right now, we don’t have enough staff to monitor this. The citizens should be held responsible and understand that helmets are for their safety,” said Raote.

He said for those who already have licences, the department is working out a way in which they can be recalled and indemnity bonds can be issued. They might either have to sign them when they approach the RTOs for renewals, or if the renewal is at a later date, then the licence could be recalled earlier.

Raote on Monday also called for a flash checking of vehicles flouting rules on the road outside Mantralaya. “I told officials to fine people whose vehicles were overstepping the zebra crossing, which is for pedestrians. Till 2pm, about 60 people were fined,” he said. Such surprise checks will be held at different points in the city, so that people become more aware about their duty as citizens, Raote said.

The department also felicitated Arvind Salve, DCP, traffic, Navi Mumbai, for collecting fines worth Rs3.5 crore through 2014.