Wed Jan 29 16:56:57 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka High Court to Examine Helmet Law Enforcement Amidst Rising Concerns

**Bengaluru, January 29, 2025** – The Karnataka High Court expressed serious concern over widespread violations of traffic rules, including helmetless riding, triple riding, and wheelies, on Wednesday. The court indicated it may expand the scope of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to address these issues alongside the implementation of a new child safety helmet law.

The PIL, filed by Archana Bhat K., an associate professor, seeks enforcement of Section 138(7) of the Central Motor Vehicle (Second Amendment) Rules, 2022, mandating helmets and harnesses for children aged nine months to four years. The court questioned the lack of enforcement of existing helmet laws, highlighting the significant number of fatalities resulting from such violations.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice M.I. Arun, directed the state government to report on its efforts to implement both the existing and new helmet regulations. The government attributed the slow enforcement of the new rule to a shortage of child safety helmets and harnesses in the market, stating that it is working with manufacturers to address this. The court’s decision to potentially broaden its inquiry reflects a growing concern over road safety in the state.

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