Baramulla, June 23: A series of tragic motorcycle accidents across Baramulla district over the past month have resulted in multiple fatalities and severe injuries, highlighting the dire need for stricter helmet usage among motorcyclists and pillion riders.
Rash driving and the widespread neglect of helmet use is considered as the primary cause behind these fatal mishaps. Just a week ago, a motorcyclist and his pillion rider lost their lives in a devastating collision with a Tavera in Tappar Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In another incident, a young student from Sopore met a similar fate while riding a scooty, and a resident of Pattan was killed in Lar Ganderbal.
The aftermath of these accidents has left several motorcyclists critically injured who are undergoing treatment in various hospitals, including tertiary care facilities. A recurring factor in these incidents is the absence of helmets, which has often led to fatal head injuries.
A doctor at GMC Baramulla stressed upon the importance of helmet use, and said that, “Most accident cases involving two-wheelers result in severe head injuries, which are often fatal. The use of helmets can significantly reduce the fatality rate in such accidents.”
Despite the known risks, many motorcyclists continue to ride without helmets. This risky behaviour is not limited to male riders; many female scooty riders also habitually forgo helmet use.
Firdous Ahmad, a local resident, stressed the crucial role of parents in ensuring their children wear helmets while riding. “Parents must not allow their children to ride without helmets to prevent such tragic outcomes,” he said.
The Traffic Police have been criticised for their lax enforcement of helmet laws. There has been no comprehensive campaign in Baramulla district to penalise or seize two-wheelers operated without helmets, leading to a culture of disregard for road safety regulations.
The locals here have urged the traffic police to act upon the violators of traffic law like non compliance to helmet use heavily and ensure that all those motorcyclists are booked under law who don’t use a helmet while riding a motorcycle.