According to the draft notification issued by the central government in June 2025, the new rule aims to enhance road safety for both the driver and the pillion rider. In fact, from January 2026, the use of two helmets will be mandatory for both riders on two-wheelers in the Tricity area. The notification states that within three months from the date of implementation of the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2025, two-wheeler manufacturers will supply two protective helmets as per the specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards at the time of purchase of the two-wheeler. It will be mandatory for two-wheeler manufacturers to provide two helmets to customers at the time of purchase, which will help curb accidents.
While bike riders using ride-hailing services already use two helmets, private vehicle drivers and battery scooter riders often do not wear helmets. They also violate traffic rules and become victims of accidents due to speeding. It is noteworthy that this decision will give a new direction to road safety amidst the increasing number of accidents in the Punjab-Tricity region. Doctors at PGI say that hundreds of lives are lost every year due to the negligence of not wearing helmets.
The number of accidents involving two-wheelers in Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, and Zirakpur areas remains a matter of concern. According to traffic police data, approximately 60 percent of those killed in road accidents were not wearing helmets. In 2022, 83 people died in road accidents in Chandigarh, of which 40 were two-wheeler riders. In 2023, this number decreased to 67, but still, approximately one in three accidents resulted in fatalities due to head injuries. In Mohali, 320 deaths were recorded in 2023, of which 172 were two-wheeler riders.
Expert Opinion
Dr. R.K., Senior Surgeon, Department of Neurotrauma, PGI Medical College Sharma says that six out of every ten patients who come to our emergency department have serious head injuries. Most of them are two-wheeler riders who don’t wear helmets. More than 70 percent of head injuries could be prevented if proper helmets were worn. Dr. Sharma also explained that even a minor injury can cause internal bleeding or swelling in the brain. In such cases, it is crucial to reach the hospital on time and not underestimate the severity of a head injury.
