Karnataka Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh on Thursday, 1 October announced that the state government has decided to crack down on the use and sale of half helmets, and is simultaneously proposing a steep hike in penalties for two-wheeler riders who use footpaths — with fines rising from ₹500 to ₹5,000 for a first offence. The announcements were made at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, where Suresh addressed reporters on a package of road-safety measures under active review.

Half Helmet Crackdown: What Is Proposed

The government intends to act against manufacturers and sellers of half helmets, particularly those stocking such products in shops and godowns. Suresh said legal provisions are currently being examined before formal enforcement begins. 'There is an increase in the number of people wearing half helmets. There is no provision for half helmets. We have decided to take action against the manufacturers and are examining the legal provisions,' he said.

A half helmet — also known as a shorty or skull-cap helmet — covers only the top of the head, leaving the face, chin, ears, and lower neck exposed. Significantly cheaper than full-face helmets, it remains widely used by two-wheeler and pillion riders across Karnataka. Safety experts have long flagged the design as inadequate in absorbing impact during a crash.

Footpath Riding Fines Set to Rise Tenfold

The proposed penalty for riding two-wheelers on footpaths is ₹5,000 for a first offence and ₹10,000 for a second offence, up from the current ₹500. The Transport and Home departments have jointly submitted the proposal, and a final decision is awaited pending an opinion from the Legal Department.

'Footpaths are meant for pedestrians, but two-wheelers and four-wheelers are being driven on them, endangering people's lives. Several people have been killed and injured in such incidents,' Suresh said, underlining the human cost that has driven the push for steeper deterrents.

Penalties for one-way traffic violations are also proposed to increase by ten times from the existing fine of ₹1,000, as part of the broader enforcement overhaul.

Points-Based Licence System Under Discussion

On Wednesday, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge and Transport Minister Suresh held a joint review meeting at Vidhana Soudha with senior officials to address traffic congestion and road safety in Bengaluru. The meeting examined a points-based driving licence system under which penalty points would accumulate against a driver's record for specific violations, with licence suspension triggered once a defined threshold is crossed.

Officials also discussed integrating the Transport Department's Sarathi system with the Bengaluru Traffic Police's e-Challan system. The integration would allow traffic police to verify licence validity on the spot, access a driver's violation history, and link new offences directly to the individual's digital record — a significant upgrade to real-time enforcement capability.

Wider Violations in the Government's Crosshairs

The review meeting covered a range of violations affecting traffic flow and pedestrian safety: footpath parking, wrong-way driving on one-way roads, unauthorised parking, no-parking zone violations, and signal breaches. Fines for all these categories are proposed to be substantially raised.

This comes amid persistent concerns about road safety in Bengaluru, one of India's most congested cities. The city has repeatedly featured in national data on two-wheeler fatalities, making the half-helmet proposal and footpath-riding crackdown directly relevant to a large urban commuter base. With legal clearances still pending, the timeline for implementation remains to be confirmed.