Hello Delhi! Why are you not wearing helmet? Violations double this year

Traffic violations related to riding without helmet are on the rise in Delhi.

Delhi has witnessed a significant rise in traffic violations related to two-wheeler riders not wearing a helmet so far this year with police issuing almost double the number of challans it did last year, according to a report by The Times of India.

From January 1, 2025, till August 15, 2025, the Delhi Police has issued 4,39,295 challans, a rise of 98.89% over 2,20,868 challans furnished in the year-ago period for helmet-related violations, as per the official data.

The violations involve the rider as well as the pillion without helmet.

The violators have been fined under Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The law requires both rider and pillion to wear helmets that meet Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification.

According to data from Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the two-wheeler riders account for over 40% of road accident fatalities in India with non-usage of helmets being one of the leading causes of severe head injuries.

Not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler significantly increases the risk of serious injury and death in the event of an accident.

The two-wheelers, including both motorcycles and scooters, accounted for over 76% of the total vehicle sales in India in FY25, according to data from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). In such a scenario, helmet use remains central to road safety.

According to experts, riders are exposed to traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, facial disfigurement and long-term disabilities without a helmet. Even at moderate speeds, impact with the road surface or another vehicle can prove fatal if the head remains unprotected.

The experts said that while BIS mandates certification for helmets, riders using non-standard or decorative helmets are equally vulnerable to injuries as those without head protection.