Bollywood star, Sonam Kapoor, took everyone by surprise, when she appeared wearing a helmet and posing with a two wheeler on Saturday, November 17, near India Gate in New Delhi. She was there to promote the use of helmets among women two wheeler users and was seen advising motorbike users, especially women, to always wear helmets while travelling on a motorcycle.
While Section 129 of Motor Vehicles Act, makes it mandatory for all two wheeler riders, be it either male or female to wear helmets, most women riding motorbikes in the national capital are not seen wearing helmets. This is because wearing helmets by women two wheeler riders have not been made mandatory by the Delhi Government. This often results in death or serious injuries of women riders in case of an accident. In 2010 alone, 64 women died in road accidents while they were travelling without helmets. In 2011, this number stood at 52 and this year so far, 35 women travelling without helmets have already lost their lives.
Sonam Kapoor was in the national capital on the invitation of the Delhi Traffic police to promote the use of helmet among women riders even while travelling pillion. This move from the Delhi traffic police came 4 days after two sisters Santosh (35) and Neeta (24) lost their lives in a road accident while riding a two wheeler. On the other hand the bike rider, with whom they collided, remained unhurt as he was wearing a helmet. Thus, the Delhi traffic police took this innovative initiative of inviting a Bollywood celebrity to promote the use of helmet so that women drive safe.
