A recent directive from the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) instructed officers to take action against riders and pillion passengers who converse while riding two-wheelers. This directive, issued by Joint Transport Commissioner K. Manoj Kumar, aimed to reduce distractions that could lead to accidents. However, after facing backlash from the public and netizens, Kerala Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar disowned the directive, stating it was issued without his knowledge.
The confusion stemmed from MVD officers claiming the instructions came from the Transport Minister’s office, prompted by a fatal accident where a bike rider rear-ended a lorry after being distracted by the pillion rider’s conversation. An officer explained that the directive intended to raise awareness among bikers about potential distractions, although there is currently no rule to fine riders for talking. Implementing the directive posed challenges, as proving such conversations during a ride is nearly impossible, and there is no clarity on which section of the law would apply.
Despite the directive’s good intentions, the authorities should have considered its practicality before making it public. There are numerous distractions on the roads, such as billboards and large advertisements, that can affect riders. Moving forward, the authorities should develop logical and feasible methods to address these issues and enhance road safety effectively.