(a) whether the Government has made it mandatory for pillion riders to wear helmet, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is in talks with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for upgrading the quality standards of helmets to decrease road accidents deaths, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has increased the validity of renewing of driving licenses for persons above 50 years, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) As per section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, every person driving or riding (otherwise than in a side car, on a motor cycle of any class or description) shall, while in a public place, wear protective headgear (helmet) conforming to the standards of Bureau of Indian Standards.
(b) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has constituted a committee to explore helmets which are safe and comfortable in Indian climatic conditions. Representative from Bureau of Indian Standardsis a member of the committee.
(c) and (d) Ministry has introduced the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the Parliament (Lok Sabha) on 9th August, 2016 which inter-alia proposes that if the person obtaining the licence, either originally or on renewal thereof, has attained the age of fifty years but has not attained the age of fifty-five years on the date of issue or, renewal thereof, be effective until the date on which such person attains the age of sixty years. The Bill was referred to the Department – related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture for examination and report. The Committee has presented its report to the Rajya Sabha on 8th February, 2017. This Ministry is in the process of placing the report of the Standing Committee after examining the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2016 before the cabinet.
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