Kerala to walk the talk on distracted wheeling, MVD may ride roughshod if you chat up with pillion riders

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MVD has circulated a directive to all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to ensure strict enforcement of this rule. Joint Transport Commissioner K Manoj Kumar emphasised the need to take immediate action against violators.Although the specific penalties for breaking this rule have not been disclosed, the MVD aims to address the increased risk of accidents due to compromised concentration, impaired decision-making, and delayed reaction times when riders talk to their passengers.

These distractions can divert attention from critical road conditions and traffic scenarios, significantly raising the likelihood of accidents.Riders turning their heads or adjusting their posture to talk to their pillion passengers can destabilise the bike, compromising control. This risk is particularly heightened at high speeds or in heavy traffic, making the new regulation a critical step towards enhancing road safety in Kerala.On May 16, driving school unions in Kerala ended their strike against the state's driving license test regulations after the government agreed to modify some directives announced by State Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar.

The minister explained that the government reached an agreement with the unions following a meeting."The strike is over, and they all have cooperated with the government... The quantity of the license is not the issue, the quality of the license is the issue.

We have decided to provide good quality education in the driving sector to avoid accidents. This is the first thing in road safety," stated the Kerala Transport Minister, PTI reported.He also noted that driving tests would be stricter, with all procedures recorded using dashboard cameras to ensure transparency.