Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has launched phase II of its drive to ensure motorists’ safety, as prescribed by the Bombay High Court in 2003, making counselling sessions mandatory to enforce the twin helmet rule and seat-belt compulsion for motorcycles and four-wheel vehicles respectively.

Joint Commissioner of police, Milind Bharambe, said: “We have launched an awareness-cum-counselling drive to get motorists to imbibe the law that is intended for their own safety.”

It will now be mandatory for both the front-seat passengers on four-wheel vehicles to fasten their seat belts when the car is in motion. Similarly, for motorcycles, the traffic police is now stopping and counselling bikers on the law requiring both rider and pillion to wear the helmet.

The advisory was issued on April 29, by police inspector Sriram Kiregaonkar from the planning section of the traffic department following instructions issued by the office of the secretary of the Maharasthra Transport department on February 6, 2016.

The transport department circular also stated that at the time of registering a two-wheeler, proof of sale of two helmets would be required to be submitted by the dealer selling the motorcycles.

Shums Jhaveri, a motorist who rides his motorcycle almost every day from Thane to Mumbai city, does not agree with this clause and says, “I prefer to buy my helmets to my customised preference from the Alibhai Premji store in south Mumbai. They assure me of the quality and variety I am comfortable with. Why should it be a compulsion for me to buy from the dealer who sells me the bike?”

Another motorcyclist, Ahmad Khan says, “Earlier, after the helmet rule was first introduced, motorists were subsequently informed that only helmets with the ISI certification were allowed. Scores of motorists had to buy two helmets as a result. Now they want helmets for pillion riders as well.”

Bharambe added, “During the first phase, we were enforcing the seat-belt rule for only the driver in four-wheel vehicles and the helmet for the rider of motorcycles. Now, we will ensure both front-seat passengers secure their seat belts. Six months hence we hope to extend this to all the three passengers of the rear seat as well.”

The drive was apparent at the posh Juhu Vile Parle Scheme traffic junction in the western suburbs, where four-wheel vehicles and motorcyclists were being stopped and updated about the new enforcement of the 2003 law. Not many were happy by the updated law, and the summer heat did not make matters any easier.

Asif Sayyed said, “This is so impractical. I am sporting a helmet, only my wife is not. On Mumbai roads traffic is mostly a snarl and full of bottlenecks. The two helmets would only make travel more cumbersome.”

Bharambe said, “Our trafficers have started the awareness drive as well as counselling motorists that the rule is in the interest of their own safety. Some people do argue with the traffic constables.

Interestingly, the traffic department has no budget allocated for publicising the drive. Bharambe explained: “We are using the word of mouth to create awareness of the drive. The traffic department has no budget for publicity. We could only request the owners of hoardings to flash our public messages without charging us a fee. Hence, we have launched the awareness drive first so that people start adhering to the traffic law.”