In the light of increasing deaths in the road accidents that are majorly caused due to not wearing helmets, the Chennai traffic police have now invoked a mandatory guideline that the pillion riders must also wear helmets like motorcyclists, failing which they will be penalized. 

The order of mandatory helmets for pillion riders has come to effect on Monday - May 23 and the traffic police officials have been enforcing the guideline strictly. The visuals from the city had shown that the officials are levying fines on the defiers. According to reports, the traffic police can impose a fine of up to Rs 2000 for the pillion riders who are caught without helmets. 

In an initial phase, the officials are imposing Rs 100 as a fine on the defiers and the penalty will be increased had the defiers were caught repeatedly. The order of mandatory helmets for pillion riders has spurred mixed reactions from the Chennaiites and sparked an imminent demand for helmets, with their prices surging. 

It has been reported that the Chennai traffic police have decided to set up a special patrolling service and inspection of vehicles to enforce the guideline. The department has installed around 200 check posts across the city and the officials have been ensuring that the pillion riders are donning a helmet. The officials are filing a case and imposing a fine on the people who violate the guideline. 

The traffic police are stationed on some of the important roads including Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai, Rajiv Gandhi Road, and Adyar and enforcing the mandatory helmeting guideline for pillion riders. As per the data, Chennai has witnessed 95 deaths in two-wheeler accidents from January 1, 2022, to May 15, 2022.

While most of the motorcyclists had died due to not wearing helmets, around 18 pillion riders had also died due to not wearing helmets. Based on the chilling data, the traffic police have decided to implement the mandatory helmet guideline for the pillion riders in the city.